[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi

"The fruit of Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's visit to Japan" H.E. Begum Khaleda Zia, Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, visited Japan from July 11 to 15 at the invitation of the Government of Japan. It was the first time in eight years that the Bangladeshi Prime Minister visited Japan. For Her Excellency, it was the fourth visit to Japan and the last visit was 11 years ago. A top-level visit can make positive impacts to enhance bilateral friendship that could not be easily achieved by any other means. The visit this time has also brought remarkable results which are listed below.

First, Her Excellency was interviewed by the NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)) on July 12. It was broadcast not only in Japan but also through BS service. It was known through this interview to many Japanese people that economic and social development has been promoted under the strong leadership of a female prime minister and that Japan's assistance has been making great contributions during the process in a country called "Bangladesh."

Next, in the afternoon on the same day, Her Excellency attended a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Shaheed Minar in the West Ikebukuro Park. The Shaheed Minar can be regarded as a symbol of Bangladeshi identity. It is going to be built for the first time permanently in other country than Bangladesh. It is expected to promote friendship between the two countries through providing the Japanese people with chances to know more about Bangladesh.

Furthermore, the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary League hosted a dinner in honour of Honorable Prime Minister with the attendance of many M.P. on July 13. They were new members encouraged to join the League by a new president, Mr. Shin Sakurai. In the League, there are Mr. Yoshiro Mori, the former Prime Minister of Japan, and other LDP (the Liberal Democratic Party) members and also members from DPJ (the Democratic Party of Japan) including Mr. Hajime Ishii who led a negotiation team of the Japanese government when "Japanese Red Army" hijacked a plane which landed in Dhaka.

President Sakurai expects that the Bangladeshi side should also establish a parliamentary league which consists of BNP and Awami League members as well. He hopes that exchanges with Japanese parliament members through such a channel will build close and constructive relations between the BNP and the Awami League. It would be wonderful if democracy in Bangladesh could be enhanced through such exchanges between the two parliamentary leagues.

The Bangladesh Business Seminar was held with the attendance of more than 300 business people on July 14. There, active discussion took place on necessary steps to promote trade and investment relations between Japan and Bangladesh. Both sides, especially the Bangladeshi Government, are expected to take decisive actions to improve investment climate in order to lead this discussion towards concrete results.

On the same day, the Record of Discussion was signed by Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO) and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh. It will enable the people of Bangladesh to obtain training and acquire technical expertise at private companies in Japan. In particular, development of small and medium scale companies is a crucial issue for economic development in Bangladesh. It is important to build an effective arrangement in which the Bangladeshi youths who get training in Japan can contribute to economic development upon their return to Bangladesh.

In the late afternoon of July 14, a summit meeting was held between H.E. Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan, and Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, which was the highlight of Her Excellency's visit to Japan. In a very amicable atmosphere, the two leaders discussed issues such as the United Nations Security Council reform and economic cooperation projects including the construction of Padma Bridge. Following the talks, an official dinner hosted by Prime Minister Koizumi was held in a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. That alone convinced me that Her Excellency's visit was a great success.

Also, after the talks, the two countries held Exchange of Notes regarding Japan's assistance for meteorological radars and other equipment in Bangladesh and signed the Cultural Exchange Programme. Though both Japan and Bangladesh have nurtured rich cultures through a long history, we do not know each other very well yet. The Cultural Exchange Programme has a significant impact on introducing distinctive
cultures to each other.

It depends on how much of the above agendas the two countries can realize to make Her Excellency's visit a real success. The next step should be Japanese Prime Minister's return visit to Bangladesh. I hope that the two countries implement the above agendas as much as possible by then so as to take up new issues for future development.

(Ambassador's past messages are posted on the following website.)
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/eBulletin/index.html
(These messages were compiled in a single booklet.)
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/eBulletin/pdf/makingabridge2.pdf

[2] Upcoming Event on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* Seminar on Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Dhaka, Aug. 7)
Japanese Universities Alumni Association in Bangladesh (JUAAB) will host a seminar on global nuclear non-proliferation on August 7 at Bangladesh National Museum. There will be video screenings and power point presentations and posters and leaflets will be exhibited.

[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* Japan-Bangladesh Prime Ministers' Meeting (Tokyo, July 14)
H.E.Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan, and H.E. Begum Khaleda Zia, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, held official talks on July 14 in Tokyo.

The two Prime Ministers held a constructive exchange of views regarding a wide range of areas in a friendly atmosphere. The two governments announced the Joint Press Statement after the talks, which is available at our Embassy's website at:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/jointpressstatement.pdf

* Japan-Bangladesh Foreign Ministers' Meeting (July 15, Tokyo)
H.E.Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, Foreign Minister of Japan, and H.E.Mr. M. Morshed Khan, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, held a meeting on July 15 in Tokyo on the occasion of Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's
visit to Japan.

The two Ministers discussed bilateral relations and global issues including the United Nations Security Council reform and Bangladesh's membership of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

* New Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (Dhaka, July 15)
On July 15, three new Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) arrived in Bangladesh in order to extend cooperation in various sectors including primary education and sports. They will work for public organizations of Bangladesh for the next two years.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has dispatched a total of 859 JOCVs to Bangladesh since March 1973. They were engaged in various fields such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. At present, there are as many as 54 JOCVs in Bangladesh.

* Seminar on Disaster as Development Opportunity (Dhaka, July 24)
Japanese Universities Alumni Association in Bangladesh (JUAAB) and Department of Urban and Regional Planning (URP) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) held a seminar on "Disaster as an Opportunity for Development" on July 24 at the BUET. Dr. S.I. Khan, former Disaster Management Planner of the United Nations, presented a key note paper followed by other prominent professors' discussions.

[4] Information

* Essay Contest on Natural Disaster
The Japanese Universities Alumni Association in Bangladesh (JUAAB) organizes an essay contest for higher secondary level students (class X1 and X11). Applicants write essays on the theme, "Natural disaster cannot be a constraint to development: Japan and Example," within 1000 words in Bengali and submit by August 20 to the JUAAB at: Rowshan Tower (6th floor), 152/2/A-2 Green Road Panthapath, Dhaka-1205

For more information, please contact Dr. Md. Shamsul Alam at
info@juaab.org
or 02-914-2792.
For information about the JUAAB, please visit their website at:
http://www.juaab.org

[5] Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellow

"Solution for Environmental Health Issues in Bangladesh" (Mr. Md. Khalequzzaman, Officer on Special Duty
Directorate General (Health) Office, Mohakhali, Dhaka)

I completed my medical graduation (MBBS) from Mymensingh Medical College in 1995. After completing my graduation I entered in Bangladesh Civil Service (Health Cadre) in 1999. While working there, I completed my MPH degree from NIPSOM in Hospital Management. At present my designation is Officer on Special Duty at the Directorate General (Health) Office, Mohakhali, Dhaka. I am going to Japan to study medical administration at Nagoya University.

In Bangladesh, there is an abundance of natural and man-made hazards, which have a gross impact on the morbidity and mortality of poor people, particularly children. Providing safe and adequate shelters, therefore, in both urban and rural circumstances is a major issue for those living in extreme poverty and is important to reduce environmental health risks.

I would like to study how social and behavioral factors are related to environmental health issues in Bangladesh and what can be done so that local knowledge can be promoted in addition to the curative side of migrating ARIs and other illness. My research will also include the viability of an environmental scorecard which can be made by local health committees as a tool to establish consensus about priorities for environmental health issues and to routinely monitor changes to find out factors which can reduce risks.

Studying in Japan will help me understand linkages among these interrelated issues and therefore equip me with knowledge to make health policy in Bangladesh which puts emphasis on the preventative side of treatment as well as the curative side. Through attending classes at Nagoya University, I hope to learn the intricacies of global development and health agenda and make contributions to safeguarding the health of Bangladeshi people as well as all the poor people in the world.

(Mr. Khalequzzaman is a JDS 2005 fellow and has left for Japan to study at Nagoya University for two years.)
(Japan Development Scholarship for Bangladesh)
http://www.jice.org/english/jds/bangladesh_org.html

[6] Editor's Note

Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's visit to Japan was a very good opportunity for me to ponder about Japan-Bangladesh relations. I easily get overwhelmed with everyday office work but it is very important to get a broad perspective on the bilateral relationship.

* This E-Bulletin is sent to those who have contact with the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh. If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe this E-Bulletin or to change the email address for subscription, please contact the Embassy of Japan at:
mail@embjp.accesstel.net
* 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