[Table of Contents]

[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi "Thoughts on Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's visit to Japan"

[2] Upcoming Event on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Seminar on Japan-Bangladesh Relations (Dhaka, Aug 9)

[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Seminar "Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day" (Dhaka, Aug 7)
* Arcadia Concert (Dhaka, Aug 4)
* JITCO Delegation's Visit to Dhaka (Aug 4 to 5)
* Seminar on Crime and Urbanization (Dhaka, Aug 4)
* Japanese Teachers' Visit to Bangladesh (Jul 29 to Aug 5)

[4] Information
* Japan's Lower House Resolution on International Peace Building at the 60th Anniversary of WWII

[5]Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellow "Introducing E-Business Management to Bangladesh's Economy" (Mr. AL Nahian Riyadh, Assistant Professor, University of Chittagong)

[6] Editor's Note

[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi
"Thoughts on Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's visit to Japan" I explained you the major outcomes of Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's visit to Japan in my last message. A remarkable point was that an amicable personal relationship has been built between Her Excellency and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi through this visit.

A summit meeting and a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Koizumi on July 14 were held in a very friendly, cordial and informal atmosphere. High Bangladeshi government officials also thought that it could not have been more open and frank than it actually was. I believe that this personal relationship between the two leaders is a valuable asset for the two countries and add a great impetus to further enhancement of our friendly relations.

It was the first time in eight years that the Bangladeshi Prime Minister visited Japan. I feel very fortunate to be positioned as the Ambassador on this rare occasion. Being engaged in preparation, going back to Japan in advance to receive the Prime Minister's entourage who arrived at Haneda Airport, accompanying Her Excellency to each program and sending the entourage off at Narita Airport were very valuable experiences.

Flags of Japan and Bangladesh were raised along both sides of the streets around a hotel where Her Excellency stayed, and the Kasumigaseki district where many government offices are located. I looked at flags of Bangladesh, where I am stationed as Ambassador, hung together with Japanese flags with deep emotion.

On the cab ride between the hotel and the Foreign Ministry, a driver said to me that he did not know that there was such a strikingly similar national flag to Japanese national flag. I explained to him that it is of the country called Bangladesh and that it is said when it got independent in 1971, its people designed their national flag as it is, wishing that the newly born country would become a respectable country like Japan.

As I mentioned in this E-Bulletin before, Bangladesh has a huge potential for development as it has a diligent and resilient people, business people with entrepreneurial spirit and competent elites. Japan will continue to support Bangladesh so that she could unlock her potential through improving its confrontational politics and governance and achieve her aim to become a country like Japan in the near future.

(Ambassador's past messages are posted on the following website.)
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/eBulletin/index.html

[2] Upcoming Event on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* Seminar on Japan-Bangladesh Relations (Dhaka, Aug 9)
Bangladesh-Japan Friendship Association will host a seminar on Japan-Bangladesh relations at Dhaka Reporter's Unity on August 9. Ambassador Horiguchi and other distinguished guests will attend.

Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's visit to Japan last month has brought positive impetus to the bilateral relationship. The seminar will address how to bring it to actual enhancement of the relations between Japan and Bangladesh.

Statements and other documents released on Her Excellency's visit are available on website: (Japan-Bangladesh Joint Press Statement)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/bangladesh/joint0507.html

[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* Seminar "Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day" (Dhaka, Aug 7)
Japanese Universities Alumni Association in Bangladesh (JUAAB) hosted a seminar "Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day" on August 7 at Bangladesh National Museum. H.E. Ms. Selima Rahman, State Minister for Cultural Affairs,
was present with other guests.

In addition to power point presentations, there were video screenings and exhibitions of posters and leaflets.

For more information about JUAAB, please visit its website:
http://www.juaab.org

* Arcadia Concert (Dhaka, Aug 4)
The Embassy of Japan hosted a music concert at Ambassador Horiguchi's official residence on August 4. Three members of Arcadia Music Foundation; Ms. Ikuko Teramoto, the soprano singer; Ms. Yachiyo Nakamura, the flutist; and Ms. Mariko Hamaguchi, the pianist, performed for around 100 guests including H.E. Mr. Nazmul Huda, Honourable Minister for Communication and H.E. Major (Rtd) Mohammed Quamrul Islam, Honourable State Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment.

On the following day, the Arcadia members recorded a performance for NTV. The program will be broadcast soon.

* JITCO Delegation's Visit to Dhaka (Aug 4 to 5)
Mr. Kagefumi Ueno, Senior Vice President of Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO), visited Dhaka from August 4 to 5. He held a meeting with H.E. Major Mohammad Quamrul Islam, Minister of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh on August 4.

JITCO and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment signed the Record of Discussion on the occasion of Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's visit to Japan last month. The R/D will enable the people of Bangladesh to acquire training and technical expertise at private companies in Japan.

For more information about this R/D, please visit the Embassy's website at:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/pdf/attachment_2.pdf

* Seminar on Crime and Urbanization (Dhaka, Aug 4)
Asia Crime Prevention Foundation held a seminar "Poverty and Environment: Increasing Crime Incidences in Urban Areas" at Rajarbagh Police Telecom Autidotirum on August 4 with the attendance of H.E. Mr. M. Shamsul Islam, Honourable Minister for Information, and Ambassador Horiguchi.

Ambassador Horiguchi shared Japan's experience and efforts in this field:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_crime040805.html

* Japanese Teachers' Visit to Bangladesh (Jul 29 to Aug 5)
The team of 9 Japanese School teachers visited Bangladesh from July 29 to August 5. They visited international cooperation activity sites, educational institutions and JICA projects in Dhaka, Chittagong and other parts of Bangladesh.

Those teachers are implementing development education in their classrooms and/or extra-curricular activities in Japan. They hope to make best use of the experiences they got in Bangladesh.

[4] Information

* Japan's Lower House Resolution on International Peace Building at the 60th Anniversary of WWII
On August 2, the House of Representatives of Japan adopted a resolution of Japan's pledge to contribute further to international peace building at the 60th anniversary of WWII and the inception of the United Nations.

The resolution states that Japan, as the only country that suffered atomic bombs, should make its utmost efforts to pave the way for the future and the sustainable development of human beings to live in harmony.

* Topics related to Japan's wartime history:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/postwar/index.html
* 60 Years: The Path of Nation Striving for Global Peace:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/postwar/pamph60.pdf

[5] Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellow "Introducing E-Business Management to Bangladesh's Economy" (Mr. AL Nahian Riyadh, Assistant Professor, University of Chittagong) I served as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Finance and Banking, University of Chittagong and decided to study e-business management in a master course at the International University of Japan (IUJ). I got my honors and master's degree from the University of Dhaka, majoring in finance. Before entering the university, I worked
for Mercantile Bank Limited for two years.

It does not require so much explanation why I chose to study e-business management at the IUJ. E-business management is strongly demanded to develop our economy. In Bangladesh no university offers masters in e-business management due to the lack of faculty in this area. E-business is about using technology including the Internet to create and enhance business practices. It can reduce costs and rationalize process and as a result, make business more efficient. Firms can use it to introduce new products, add value to existing products and adopt new business practices by integrating e-business.

Bangladesh is an underdeveloped, labor surplus country, which requires technology for its economic development more than foreign aid. In the era of globalization, Bangladesh's business needs to become efficient, competitive and global through adopting e-business technologies. Currently, business is still conducted in traditional ways because of the lack of knowledge in the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Highly educated people in the area of e-business management can improve the overall situation and introduce e-business education to universities in Bangladesh.

The program at the IUJ will help me become an expert in e-business management and I will also be able to learn the way to create and enhance business by using e-business technologies. My experiences and knowledge will contribute to economic development of Bangladesh through participating the government's planning, research, consultancy and training business people so that their business become more efficient. I hope to contribute to the development of trade, business, commerce, industry, information technology, financial system, financial instruments and products, and international trade and finance.

For this purpose, I should be well educated in those particular areas. Studying in Japan can meet my career development needs and thus contribute to Bangladesh as a whole. I have no doubt that the Graduate School of International Management at the IUJ offers quality classes and its faculty has international business experiences. In addition, I hope that the IUJ provides ample opportunities to invite guest speakers, plan company visits and work on projects.

All combined, it will enable me to enrich my expertise, knowledge, experience and research and teaching techniques. I also hope to broaden my horizon to make future career development. Someday I want to compare education systems and teaching techniques of developed countries with those of developing countries like Bangladesh and introduce e-business program to educational institutions.

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

[6] Editor's Note

I enjoyed listening to the Arcadia music concert on August 4. The program included several Japanese folk songs which I learned in my childhood. Living far away from Japan, I listened to those good old songs with deep emotion.

On a different occasion, I had a chance to listen to Bangladeshi women singing Tagore's songs together. Though they were not professional and it was impromptu, the performance was very hearty. I hope to learn
them sometime.

Saori Nagase, Editor