Dhaka, Oct. 30 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has returned home after wrapping up a four-day visit to Japan.

He landed at Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight shortly after 2:45am on Thursday.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Parliament Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and senior officials welcomed the prime minister at the VIP lounge of the airport.

The prime minister and his entourage departed Japan's Narita Airport around 11pm local time, or 8pm Bangladesh time.

The flight had initially been scheduled to leave at 6pm. However, a mechanical problem with the aircraft delayed the departure by nearly five hours.

As a result, the prime minister and his entourage arrived in Dhaka in the early hours o...