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Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (23rd issue / April 18th, 2005)
- Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh -
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[Table of Contents]
[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi
"On Hartals-Part 2"
[2] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Japan Development Scholarship Candidates Nominated (Apr. 17, Dhaka )
* Vita World Inaugural Ceremony (Apr. 15, Comilla)
* US$50 million Aid for Ashuganj Power Station (Apr. 12, Dhaka )
* Filariasis Seminar (Apr. 11, Dhaka )
* New Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Arrived (Apr. 8, Dhaka )
* Ambassador's Visit to Dhaka Stock Exchange (Apr. 7, Dhaka )
[3] Information
* Japan's Position on the United Nations Reform
* United Nations University Financial Assistance Programme
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[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi
"On Hartals-Part 2"
I would like to start where I left off in my earlier message with reference to the UNDP report entitled "Beyond Hartals: TowardsDemocratic Dialogue in Bangladesh" in the last issue of thisE-Bulletin.
The report says that the national economical loss brought about byhartals is estimated at three to four percent of the gross domesticproduct (GDP). Let's now look to each sector.
In the transport sector, the income of people working for buses orauto-rickshaws decreases considerably, but only rickshaw pullersincrease their income because other transportation cannot be used.However, they also oppose hartals because prices of daily necessitiesincrease due to the sudden disruption in the distribution chain.
In the garments sector, which accounts for 76 percent of export, thedamage of production by hartals can be managed, but the loss ofreliability of Bangladeshi industries and the damage of export andinvestment by political instability are irreparable.
In rural areas, rich farmers and fishermen can live without workingfor a few days, but the poor have to borrow money to live on. Oncethey borrow money, some of them cannot pay back their debt.
In the education sector, the damage is also severe. On the day ofhartals, public schools are closed. Although extra classes are givenon other days, students cannot catch up on their study. As a result,many young people not only cannot finish studying what school couldoffer, but also stay behind in graduation, and upset their life plans.
However, the report says, controlling hartals is not an easy issue.Freedom of speech and assembly is not an unlimited right. Respect forother people's rights to own property, action, and work is alsoimportant. On the other hand, although use of speech and assembly should be controlled by law, it is difficult because of the current context of highly confrontational politics in the country. The report recommends that ruling and opposition parties should reach a consensus through continuous dialogues and consultations.
The report makes the following five proposals to stop hartals:
1. To modernize the constitution to change the electoral system toproportional representation,
2. To strengthen the parliament to reinforce the opposition parties' voice,
3. To make the government more transparent and accountable,
4. To reform the party system that empowers a handful of powerfulpeople to decide everything,
5. To adopt legal measures so that the host parties compensate for thedamage done by hartals.
Besides, instead of hartals, the report proposes "human chain,""silent protests," "mock Parliaments," and "mock courts."
The above is the major points of the UNDP report. However, my frankquestion is: Given the current context of highly confrontationalpolitics, how can both ruling and opposition parties reach anagreement on a code of conduct to control hartals?
Rather than this, the following process seems more effective tocontrol hartals. Namely, the ruling party, either BNP or Awami League,first prohibits the violation of other people's rights to own property and work by law in exercising those of expression and assembly. And then the party obeys the law even if it goes to the opposition. I will try to seize an opportunity of raising this proposal at an appropriate platform in future.
(UNDP report)
http://www.un-bd.org/undp/publications/Beyond%20Hartals.pdf
(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] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Japan Development Scholarship Candidates Nominated (Apr. 17, Dhaka )
The nomination announcement ceremony for Japan Development Scholarship(JDS) candidates and report session by JDS returnees was held on April17, 2005, at the Economic Relations Department, the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Horiguchi congratulated the 20 candidates who were selected this year from a total of 354 applicants and made the following speech.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_jds050417.html
The Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resources Development Scholarship,more commonly known as the Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) is designed to provide greater opportunities for young Bangladeshis in both public and private sectors so that they can contribute to nation-building activities.
The press release is posted on the following website.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/jds170405.html
* Vita World Inaugural Ceremony (Apr. 15, Comilla)
The inauguration of Vita World, a Japan-Bangladesh joint venture, was held on April 15, 2005, at Dimatoli in Cheora under Comilla District.
Vita World is a tourist complex built on nearly 20 acres of land atthe mid-point of Dhaka-Chittagong highway with its hotel, restaurant, community center, conference hall, health club, children's play ground, dairy products, bakery, fast food, and future components like a CNG-petrol filling station, an amusement park, a shooting complex and a dairy unit.
Ambassador made the following speech at the ceremony.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_vita050415.html
* US$50 million Aid for Ashuganj Power Station (Apr. 12, Dhaka )
The Protocol Signing Ceremony of the Overhauling Contract of Unit 4 & 5 of Ashuganj Power Station was held on April 12, 2005, at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.
Unit 4 & 5 of Ashuganj Power Station are of 150 megawatt (MW) each.
The project will be implemented under the Japanese Debt Relief Grant Aid (DRGA) Counterpart Fund portion worth 40.3 million Euros (approximately 330 crore taka, or 50 million US dollars) and KFW portion 32 million Euros (approximately 260 crore taka, or 40 million US dollars).
The overhauling of the earlier three units of Ashuganj Power Stationwas also carried out using DRGA Counterpart Fund.
Ambassador Horiguchi made the following speech at the ceremony.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_ashuganj050412.html
* Filariasis Seminar (Apr. 11, Dhaka )
Information Sharing Seminar on Filariasis Program entitled "Challengefor Eliminating Filariasis in Bangladesh", co-organized by theGovernment of Bangladesh and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was held on April 11, 2005, at Ball Room of Dhaka Sheaton Hotel.
Mr. A.F.M. Sarwar Kamal, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Dr. Duangvadee Sungkhobol, Representative of the World Health Organization in Bangladesh, attended the seminar.
Ambassador Horiguchi made the following speech at the seminar.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_filariasis050411.html
* New Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Arrived (Apr. 8, Dhaka )
On April 8, seven new Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV)arrived in Bangladesh in order to extend cooperation in varioussectors of Bangladesh, including rural development, midwifery, and infectious disease control.
At present, there are 62volunteers engaged in various activities throughout Bangladesh.
The new JOCV members called on Ambassador Horiguchi on April 10 at the Embassy.
The press release is posted on the following website.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/jocv110405.html
* Ambassador's Visit to Dhaka Stock Exchange (Apr. 7, Dhaka )
Ambassador Horiguchi visited the Dhaka Stock Ekchange (DSE) and attended the Roundtable Discussion with DSE Board of Directors at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Boardroom on April 7, 2005.
Ambassador Horiguchi said that better corporate governance through introduction of market-friendly rules and regulatory framework would be ensured to create the perfect conditions for sustainable capital market growth.
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_dse050407.html
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[3] Information
* Japan's Position on the United Nations Reform
The information about Japan's Position on the United Nations Reform is
posted on the following website.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/reform/index.html
The brochure entitled "Reform of the UN Security Council - Why Japan should become a permanent member" is posted on the following website.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/reform/pamph0503.pdf
* United Nations University Financial Assistance Programme
"The United Nations University Financial Assistance Programme for Students from Developing Countries Studying in Japan" will be implemented by the United Nations University with financial assistance from the Government of Japan and Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
This programme will be implemented by the UNU through cooperating universities and will provide reimbursable funds to self-financed students from developing countries studying in Japan.
The programme is designed to help students contribute to the development of their home countries.
Please visit the following website for details.
http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj/toj0303e.html
https://www.fap.hq.unu.edu/FAPS/english/index.jsp
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Embassy of Japan
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