[Table of Contents]

[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi "Towards the enhancement of South Asian regional cooperation"

[2] Upcoming Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations * The 20th Anniversary of the International Angel Association (November 9, Gazipur)

[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Bangladesh-Japan International Art Exchange 2005 (Oct 20-26, Dhaka)
* Japanese Prime Minister Hosted "Iftar" (Oct 24, Tokyo)
* Handover of Japan's Support of Taka 46 Crore to ICDDR,B
(Oct 24, Dhaka)

[4] Information
* Japan Foundation's Japanese Literature in Translation Search

[5] Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellow "Importance of accountability and transparency for good governance" (Mr. Abul Kalam Azad, Additional Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General, Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh)

[6] Editor's Note

[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi
"Towards the enhancement of South Asian regional cooperation"
The SAARC Summit in Dhaka will be held on November 11 and 12 after two postponements. According to news reports, four agreements will be signed to promote regional trade and investment and participants are
likely to discuss ways to deepen cooperation in the fields of disaster prevention, anti-terrorism and energy.

South Asian countries used to jointly form the Indian Empire and so the peoples share historical and cultural similarities. Taking that into consideration, I hope that regional cooperation should be advanced with India, whose land and population amount to 70% of South Asia, at its center. The current level of cooperation, however, is much lower than expectation.

There have been various arguments about reasons for this: most countries in South Asia have borders only with India, and therefore, regional cooperation has to rely on India; various political and economic disputes easily rise between those countries and India because people, goods, or ideas are freely exchanged; India tends to take advantage of its power and give little consideration to sensitivities and concerns that its neighbors may have, and as a result, they become suspicious and are discouraged to promote regional
cooperation.

Another argument is that, though many of these countries are composed of many races and religions, their governments tend to give little consideration to minorities. As a result, their situations are apt to become violent and divided since religious influences are strong (Islam in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives, Hinduism in Nepal and Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Bhutan) and also they are on the process of nation-building.

In addition, anti-establishment and separatist groups in each country run away to India when they find themselves in difficult situations and sometimes obtain supports from the Indian side. Therefore, governments of those countries are inclined to blame India regardless of the actual stance of the Indian government.

In fact, when the Indian government officially supported the Tamils against the other racial groups in Sri Lanka in the mid 1980s, President Jayawardene criticized the Indian government at the second SAARC Summit held in Bangalore in 1986. On the other hand, the Indian government accused Pakistan of assisting anti-government rebel forces around its borders and also accused Bangladesh of providing other anti-government forces in North-East India with refuge.

Thus, there are many disputes among South Asian countries, which makes me wonder why they do not use the SAARC as a platform to solve these nagging differences.

The reason is said to be that India agreed with the establishment of the SAARC only on the condition that bilateral issues would not be discussed. In that way, it prevented the other member countries from using the SAARC as a collective bargaining tool against India. Furthermore, India, as a leader in the region, has adopted the Indian version of the Monroe Doctrine and is inclined to rule out interferences by outside countries in regional matters.

As a result, the SAARC has not been able to take up such critical issues for the member countries like the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, the Maoists in Nepal, the conflict between India and Bangladesh about water sharing and so on.

In order that the SAARC becomes a more effective organization for regional cooperation, its rules may need to be changed so that the member countries can take up any matter that hinders amicable relations among them at the SAARC.

It may create a difficult situation in the short term but in the mid and long term, I believe that it will build mutual trust among the member countries in the region, promote trade and investment and bring development and prosperity in the whole South Asia.

In order to realize this, wisdom and strong political leadership will be required more than ever. (Past messages from Ambassador Horiguchi)
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/eBulletin/index.html

[2] Upcoming Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* The 20th Anniversary of the International Angel Association (November 9, Gazipur)
The International Angel Association, a voluntary organization of Japan, celebrates its 20th anniversary of its entrance into activities in Bangladesh in 1986.

Though it initially started with the children's home for rehabilitation and education, it has now expanded in various essential sectors like women's education, technical training, agricultural training, students' scholarship, construction of schools and health services including sanitary programs.

The governments of Japan has been extending grant to the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Bangladesh including the International Angel Association under its Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, believing that the partnership between Japanese Government and NGOs will bring more effective and productive cooperation in the social sector.

[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* Bangladesh-Japan International Art Exchange 2005 (Oct 20-26, Dhaka)
"Bangladesh-Japan International Art Exchange 2005: Bridge of Friendship" was held from October 20 to 26 at Bengal Gallery. Displayed were works done by ten artists respectively from Japan and Bangladesh including Mohammad Kibria.

H.E. Ms. Selima Rahman, Minister for Cultural Affairs, Dr. Toshiyuki Shiraki, Professor Emeritus at Tsukuba University and Ambassador Horiguchi attended the inaugural ceremony on October 20.

(Ambassador Horiguchi's speech)
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_bridge201005.html

* Japanese Prime Minister Hosted "Iftar" (Oct 24, Tokyo)
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hosted an "Iftar" at his office in the evening of October 24 and forty representatives from the Islamic Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo, including H.E. Mr. Serajul Islam, Ambassador of $B!! (BBangladesh in Japan, attended.

The purpose of the Iftar event was to deepen the understanding about Islamic culture with a view to promoting mutual understanding through strengthening dialogue between Japan and the Islamic world.

* Handover of Japan's Support of Taka 46 Crore to ICDDR,B (Oct 24, Dhaka)

The handing over ceremony of concurrence letter to the Centre for Health and Population Research (ICDDR, B) was held on September 24 at ICDDR, B. Mr. M. Moniruzzaman, Secretary, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Ismail Zabihullah, Secretary, Economic Relations Division and other distinguished guests were present along with Ambassador Horiguchi.

The Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh allocates Japanese Debt Relief Grant Aid counterpart fund, amounting to 46 crore Taka (appx. US$7 million), to the "Improved Health for the Poor: Health, Nutrition and Population Research Project" conducted by Centre for Health and Population Research (ICDDR, B).

The ICDDR, B has played a commendable role in extending medical service for diarrhoeal diseases and is also efficiently dealing with reproductive health, family planning, dengue fever and various infectious diseases.

(Press release about Japan's support for health programs)
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/pr_icddrb040905.html

[5] Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellow "Importance of accountability and transparency for good governance" (Mr. Abul Kalam Azad, Additional Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General, Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh)

I consider myself as an extremely fortunate man to be selected for the prestigious Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) 2005-2006 and thus getting the opportunity of studying in Japan, a special country committed to make the world a better place. Thinking only about the strength and capabilities I will acquire through this degree provides me with my greatest reason for optimism in future.

The proposed title of my thesis as a part of Master's course at the Graduate School of Economics of Yamaguchi University is "to ensure good governance in public sector of Bangladesh: Role of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Supreme Audit Institution (SAI)".

The Constitution of Bangladesh and the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament provide elaborate mechanisms to ensure financial accountability of the executive government of Bangladesh. SAI & PAC can play an important role to ensure good governance. Accountability and transparency are the key components of good governance.
Accountability and transparency can play an important role in terms of utilization of resources according to economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

I am interested to analyze the relationship and interdependence between PAC and SAI and their roles in ensuring financial accountability and transparency.

SAI of Japan plays a tremendous role in the enhancement of accountability and transparency at Japanese Government. I who belong to Bangladeshi Audit department, a prospective student in Japan will be able to equip myself with enhanced knowledge of various dimensions of Japanese Public Administration.

Right now, I am keenly interested to study in Public Administration because it provides me chances to learn politics, economies, public administration, international relation, etc. of both developed and developing countries. Once I complete my study in Public Administration in Japan, I think my knowledge, capacity, idea, thinking, experience, skills, managerial capacity, etc. will be tremendously increased. I will definitely utilize them to establish good governance in Bangladesh by which naturally I will become a great help to my nation.

I am sure that my experience in Japan will be the most exciting part of my professional life. After I have completed my degree I am sure the acquired knowledge is bound to make me a worthy member of my department and of course of my country. For me, "the sky is the limit" and I am willing to go for the sky with the power of knowledge and a chance Japan has given to me. The words in my mind now are-"The heights of great men reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight but they while their companions slept were toiling upwards in the night".

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

[6] Editor's Note

I had a chance to go back to Japan for the first time since I was assigned to Bangladesh. My family and friends were all quite interested in the lives and people in Bangladesh and that was a pleasant surprise. I hope that more information about Bangladesh be easily accessible for Japanese, even for my mother who has not gone on line. Until then, each Japanese and Bangladeshi who travels between the two countries plays an important role.

Editor, Saori Nagase

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