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Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (17th issue / January 25, 2005 )
- Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh -
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[Table of Contents]
[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi "Bangladeshi Resilience"
[2] Upcoming Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Discover Japan through Contemporary Posters (Jan. 18-31, Dhaka )
* Cultural Events (Feb, Dhaka )
[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* World Conference on Disaster Reduction (Jan. 18-22, Kobe, Japan )
* Japan Development Scholarship Interview (Jan. 17-20, Dhaka )
* Visit of Japanese Senior Vice-Minister for Agriculture(Jan. 13-15, Dhaka )
* Exchange of Notes on PEDP-II with UNICEF (Jan. 13, Dhaka )
[4] Information
* Japan 's Assistance for the Tsunami Disaster in the Indian Ocean
* General Policy Speech by Japanese Prime Minister at the New Session of the Diet
* Foreign Policy Speech by Japanese Foreign Minister at the New Session of the Diet
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[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi "Bangladeshi Resilience"Last year, there were a lot of disasters around the world. During the end of the year, tsunami hit countries around the Indian Ocean and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Japan, for its part, suffered from huge typhoons and a severe earthquake in its central region.
Bangladesh also heaved under heavy losses from the biggest flood in July and August since 1988 and from another flood in September due to the heaviest rainfall in the last fifty-four years.
In order to recover from these damages, the Government of Japan gave emergency aid and food assistance worth US$ 6.8 million. A significant portion of this fund was allotted for purification and restoration of wells for drinking water, and setting up sanitary latrines to avoid post-disaster outbreak of diseases in epidemic forms.
Last November, Mr. Morten Giersing, Resident Representative of UNICEF, and I went to Koshba, Brahmanbaria, which is located next to Tripura, Northeast of India, in order to inspect how our assistance was being used and carried out.
As the land around this area is lower than other areas, people live in houses built on plots elevated about one meter with soil dug from the surrounding grounds. During the last year's flood, the main road was covered with water, and each house was also flooded fifty to sixty centimeters above the floor level. Wells and toilets were flooded, too.
When we visited Koshba, most of the wells and pumps in the area had been fixed, and sanitary toilets had been set up. The pumps, when restored, were set up thirty or forty centimeters higher than before to prevent those from being flooded in the future at the same scale as last year.
The most impressive thing during this trip was Bangladeshi people's resilience. A few months ago, the entire area assumed the look of a great lake, a lot of cattle were drowned, and rice seeds were flooded and spoiled. However, when we visited, the fields were fresh and green again, cows grazed, ducks swam vigorously, and people lived merrily as usual.
I am sure that the support of the Government of Bangladesh and the assistance of international community made this rapid restoration and rehabilitation possible. However, I firmly believe that the most important factor was the unmatched resilience of the Bangladeshi people, who have lived for centuries with floods as a part of their lives.
(Ambassador's past messages are posted on the following website.)
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/eBulletin/index.html
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[2] Upcoming Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Discover Japan through Contemporary Posters (Jan. 18-31, Dhaka )
"Discover Japan through Contemporary Posters" exhibition, funded by the Japan Foundation and co-organized by the Bangladesh National Museum and the Embassy of Japan, is now open for public till January 31 at the Nalinikanta Bhattashali Exhibition Room, Bangladesh National Museum, Dhaka.
On January 18, Mr. Kazi Abul Kashem, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, graced the inaugural ceremony as the Chief Guest. Mr. Hidetoshi Ukita, Charge d' affairs of the Embassy of Japan made following speech.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/spposter2005.pdf
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/cevents.htm
A total 75 posters, created by 42 highly talented graphic artists introduced various dimensions of Japanese arts and culture. These posters are social art and not just limited to a means of advertising. Please take advantage of this opportunity and have a look at the Japanese contemporary art!
For more information, please contact the Cultural Section, Embassy of Japan.E-mail: information@embjp.accesstel.net Tel: 8810087 (ex.155/158)
* Cultural Events (Feb, Dhaka )
The following Japan-related cultural events are being planned:Feb, 19, JUAAB Bengali Speech Contest (TSC Hall, University of Dhaka )
Feb, 24, Discover Japan Exhibition (National Public Library)
Feb, 25, Japan Cup Karate Tournament (Mirpur Indoor Stadium)
Feb, 27-28, Bonsai Exhibition
(National Music and Dance Center, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy)
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[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* World Conference on Disaster Reduction (Jan. 18-22, Kobe, Japan )
World Conference on Disaster Reduction was held from January 18-22, 2005 in the City of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. From Bangladesh, Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Minister for Food & Disaster Management, attended the Conference.
On January 18, Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, made a speech on Japan 's disaster reduction lessons to share with the international community, entitled "Disaster Strikes When You Least Expect It". For the full text, please visit the following website:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/conf0501/address-2.html
Japan launched the following Initiative for Disaster Reduction through
ODA on that occasion.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/conf0501-2.pdf
At-a-glance information sheet on the above initiative, " Japan 's Emergency Assistance in Response to the Sumatran Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster in the Indian Ocean " is available on the following website:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/disaster/indonesia/glance.pdf
For detailed information on the Conference, please visit the following website:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/conf050.htm
http://www.unisdr.org/wcdr
*Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Interview (Jan. 17-20, Dhaka )
January 17-20, 10 Japanese professors from 10 Japanese universities, where JDS students would pursue their higher studies, visited Dhaka to interview 53 candidates who passed selections on the merit basis of the submitted documents and separate English exam. This year, a total of 354 people applied for the JDS. After the final selection and training, a total of 20 students would leave for Japan around June 2005 to undertake their Masters' studies.
* Visit of Japanese Senior Vice-Minister for Agriculture (Jan. 13-15, Dhaka )
Mr. Takayoshi Tsuneda, Senior Vice Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan visited Bangladesh from January 13-15. Mr. Tsuneda visited Jamuna Bridge which was constructed by the Japanese Yen Loan and village markets in Tangail to learn about the rural infrastructure. On January 15, Mr. Tsuneda met Mr. M.K. Anwar, Agriculture Minister and Mr. Alhaj Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Commerce Minister to discuss various bilateral and multilateral issues including WTO.
* Exchange of Notes on PEDP-II with UNICEF (Jan. 13, Dhaka )
On January 13, an Agreement on Japan 's Grant Aid to support the Second Primary Education Development Programme(PEDP-II)through UNICEF, amounting to 243 million yen (approximately Taka 14 crore 31 lac or US$ 2.4 million), was signed in Dhaka.
Mr. Morten Giersing, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh, and Ambassador Horiguchi signed and exchanged notes. Mr. Mahbub Ahmed, Joint Secretary (Development), Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and other government, UNICEF and Embassy officials also attended the ceremony.
For more information, please visit the following website:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/pdf/UNICEF_PR_13_01_05.pdf
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[4] Information
* Japan 's Assistance for the Tsunami Disaster in the Indian Ocean
The Special ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami was held on January 6 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan, announced Japan 's grant assistance amounting to US$ 500 million (approximately Taka 3060 crore) at the meeting.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/asean/pmv0501/address.html
Japan 's Response to the Earthquake off the Coast of Sumatra and Tsunami Disaster in the Indian Ocean is also posted on the following website:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/assist0501.pdf
For more information about the Japan 's assistance, please visit the following website:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/disaster/indonesia/index.html
* General Policy Speech by Japanese Prime Minister at the New Session of the Diet
On January 21, at the beginning of the 162nd session of the Diet, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese Prime Minister, enunciated the importance of strategic use of the ODA to address the challenges faced by the international community, such as development issues and overcoming poverty in developing countries.
The full text is available on the following website:
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/koizumispeech/2005/01/21sisei_e.html
* Foreign Policy Speech by Japanese Foreign Minister at the New Session of the Diet
On January 21, at the beginning of the 162nd session of the Diet, Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, Japanese Foreign Minister, enunciated to tackle development issues faced by developing countries, starting with poverty reduction, by carrying out ODA effectively and strategically. The full text is available on the following website:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/fm/machimura/speech0501.html
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Embassy of Japan
Plot#5& 7 Dutabash Road
Baridhara, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/
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