Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh : Email Bulletin Archive

Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (26th issue / May 29, 2005)
- Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh - ====================================================================================================

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[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi
"Visit to Chittagong Hill Tracts (Part 2)"

Last month, I had an opportunity to go to Bandarban and Rangamati in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

As the name "hill tracts" suggests, there are hills and mountains which makes the landscape of CHT look very different from other parts of Bangladesh. Actually, it reminded me of Japan, which is a mountainous country. In addition, most of the 11 to 13 indigenous tribes living in CHT are of Mongoloid origin, and I saw many people
whose countenances were very similar to the Japanese.

The Kaptai lake in Rangamati was artificially created to build a hydro-power dam in the river. Its view was remarkably beautiful and in the rainy season, when its surface fills up to the brim, as many as 400 buses bring lots of tourists everyday.

Through this trip, I was welcomed by singing and dancing of minority people everywhere I visited. I enjoyed various cultures such as a very unique instrument with bamboo pipes and songs that had similar pathos as Japanese folk songs. Taking the attractive nature and the unique culture of these minority groups into consideration, I could not help but wonder about huge potential of tourism in this area.

However, local people were sceptical that people from outside take all the benefits away after they build hotels and more tourists come. We need to put our heads together in order to come up with a way how tourist industry could bring benefits to local people.

What is worse is that CHT is regarded as a dangerous place to visit since foreign aid workers were kidnapped several years ago. There are several military checkpoints on the way to CHT, which make it difficult for tourists to casually visit there. We may have to wait and see if the situation improves before we see tourism industry be
promoted there.

I also visited the Japan-financed FAO food security project sites. A small scale irrigation project with small funding has achieved a notable success in raising the farmers' living standard. UNDP's Community Empowerment Project provided each village with US$7,000 to implement most necessary projects. People in one village agreed that they needed education most and built the first elementary school with the fund. A total of 47 families have been contributing 1kg of rice per month towards shouldering the working and maintenance costs. I was very happy to know that self-help efforts are being successfully
nurtured there.

UNDP has been systematically promoting the development of CHT through gathering funds from the US, EU, Australia, Norway and other donor entities. I saw that UNDP greatly encourages and supports local people in CHT. Japan has committed to construct 10 multi-purpose community centres as a part of UNDP's programme and I sincerely hope that this cooperation should encourage CHT people and contribute towards their
sustainable development.

(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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* $3 Million Grant for Japan Development Scholarship (May 23, Dhaka)
The Government of Japan and the Government of Bangladesh signed agreements on the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) Programme for the next year amounting to US$ 3 million.

JDS programme was established by the Government of Japan in 2001 in order to enhance the knowledge and skills of young Bangladeshi people. The total number of 20 persons will be selected for studying in Japan for two years from July 2006. The twenty fellows of JDS 2005 are taking Japanese language training programme and scheduled to leave for Japan in July 2005.

(Japan Development Scholarship for Bangladesh)
http://www.jice.org/english/jds/bangladesh_org.html

* Inauguration Ceremony of the Rupsha Bridge (May 21, Khulna)
The Rupsha Bridge was opened for traffic on May 21. Prime Minister H.E. Khaleda Zia inaugurated the bridge along with other high government officials including Mr. Shuzen Tanigawa, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The 1,360-metre long and 16.48-metre wide bridge was built with technical and financial assistance from Japan. Prime Minister recognized the government of Japan and JBIC as Bangladesh's long development partners in her speech and thanked them for financing the project.

Mr. Tanigawa and Ambassador Horiguchi's speeches at the inauguration ceremony will be posted at our Embassy's website at:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/ambassadorSpeeches.html

* Senior Vice Foreign Minister's Visit to Bangladesh (May 20-22)
Mr. Shuzen Tanigawa visited Bangladesh from May 20 to 22. The main purpose of his visit was to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Rupsha Bridge. He also met Prime Minister H.E. Khaleda Zia and other high government officials.

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* We are grateful for your valuable comments, suggestions, opinions, and/or requests on the E-Bulletin at any time. Please send those to the Embassy of Japan at:
mail@embjp.accesstel.net

Embassy of Japan
Plot No. 5 & 7, Dutabash Road,
Baridhara, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Phone (880-2)881-0087
FAX (880-2)882-6737
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/