Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh : Email Bulletin Archive

Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (38th issue / Nov 13, 2005)
- Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh - ====================================================================================================

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[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi "Revisiting Comilla - Remembrance Service at the Commonwealth War Cemetery and Restoration of the Moinamati Buddhist Remains -"

I. 2005 Remembrance Service at the Commonwealth War Cemetery
On November 11, I attended 2005 Remembrance Day Service held at Commonwealth War Cemetery in Comilla. At this years' service, all ambassadors and deputies from participating countries including Japan placed wreaths at the tall tower, the Cross of Sacrifice, at the front of the cemetery by an alphabetical order and mourned the war dead with renewed prayer for the world peace.

As I wrote in this E-Bulletin around this time last year, the Japanese soldiers had been excluded from a main service in which all attendants participated. In the order of previous years' ceremony, after the main service was over, the participants moved to the area where the epitaphs for Japanese soldiers were located and watched Japanese Ambassador placing a wreath there.

I felt some discomfort about this different treatment of the Japanese soldiers even after 60 years have elapsed since the end of WWII, while they are buried together with the soldiers of the Commonwealth at such a beautiful cemetery. I thought that Japanese soldiers' spirits might feel happy if they are incorporated into the joint prayer for the world peace beyond gratitude and resentment.

Then, I sent a letter to H.E. Mr. Anwar Choudhury, British High Commissioner, asking him to forward my request to his home government that it should change programs for next year's service. After several months, the High Commissioner informed me that British government approved my request.

On the morning of the 11th, I arrived in Comilla earlier than scheduled since I went together with British High Commissioner accompanied by his security vehicles which allowed us to smoothly pass through traffic jam. Before the Service, I got a chance to talk with the High Commissioner. When I expressed my gratitude to him for the changes once again, he explained to me the reason why it took several months for the process.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission informed him that the Commission was getting negative responses to treating Japanese soldiers together with Commonwealth soldiers from some veterans' groups. Therefore, the High Commissioner himself wrote letters to those groups in order to ask them to consider the matter favorably. After a several month lapse, he was informed of the Commission's approval of the changes.

The British High Commissioner was seriously injured in the grenade attack at a Islamic shrine last May when he visited Sylhet, where he used to live till his 12 years old before his family immigrated to England. After intensive treatment in London, he fortunately recovered well enough to come back to Dhaka to resume his work. Back then, I was very pleased with his recovery since I had been afraid that it would negatively influence the British-Bangladesh relationship if he could not return here. Also, I was pleased that we could get his help to realize the changes in the order of the program of the Remembrance Day Service. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the High Commissioner again.

II. Restoration of the Moinamati Buddhist Remains I visited the Moinamati Buddhist remains after the service last year. I learned that there are only two towers left of the original three stupas of Kotila Mura which are very rare as Buddhist architecture. It seemed that one of the two towers weathered so much that it might collapse completely unless prompt repair would be made. I was worried about it so much that I later sent Embassy staff there to see the possibility of Japan's assistance for its restoration. Then, an official of the archaeological bureau told the staff that Bangladeshi Government had already allocated necessary budgets for its work and planned to do it on their own.

When I visited the same site again after attending the Service this year, I found that the damaged part had been well repaired. H.E. Ms. Selima Rahman, Minister for Cultural Affairs, once told me that Bangladeshi government had applied to the UNESCO that it would designate the Moinamati Buddhist remains as a World Heritage Site. I hope that this application should be approved as soon as possible because it would make comprehensive restoration measures of the site possible and many people could visit and appreciate this Buddhist heritage.

(Past messages from Ambassador Horiguchi)
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

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[2] Upcoming Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* Inauguration of Rural Development Engineering Centre of LGED (Nov 22, Dhaka)
H.E. Begum Khaleda Zia will inaugurate the newly constructed Rural Development Engineering Centre RDEC of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) on November 22. Distinguished guests Ambassador Horiguchi are expected to be present at the ceremony.

The construction of RDEC building was supported by Japan's ODA loan, and JICA Experts are also dispatched for its capacity building. RDEC is a symbol of cooperation between the government of Bangladesh and Japan.

http://www.jica.go.jp/bangladesh/activities/02_1_3.html

* Reports of Returned JDS Fellows (Nov 23, Dhaka)
On November 23, 18 fellows of Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) will report their experiences in Japan at the NEC Building of Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh. They finished two-year study programs in Japan and are expected to play important roles in each field for the development of Bangladesh.

The recruitment for the fellows of JDS 2006 was closed on October 20. This year, more than 350 young Bangladeshis applied for 20 windows. The list of JDS fellows as well as their research topics are on the following website at:
http://sv2.jice.org/jds/scholarships/bangladesh/bangladesh_org.html#09

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[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* Message from Japanese Prime Minister to H.E. Begum Khaleda Zia on the Occasion of SAARC Summit (Nov 7)
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sent a message to H.E. Begum Khaleda Zia on the occasion of the 13th SAARC Summit Meeting and the Association's 20th anniversary.

In his message, he extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Government of Bangladesh, offered his sincerest condolences to the victims of the earthquake and the tsunami at the end of last year as well as the victims of the earthquake in South Asia last month.

He also stated that Japan has been making and will continue to make its utmost effort to support the affected countries and peoples through many various channels.

He further welcomed that the SAARC is contributing greatly to the regional stability and development in South Asia. He concluded his message by expressing Japan's commitment to continue promoting cooperation with SAARC through the Japan-SAARC Special Fund and other means.

* SAARC Welcomed Japan as Observer (Nov 13, Dhaka)
According to Dhaka Declaration adopted at the SAARC Summit Meeting held here in Dhaka from November 12 to 13, it was agreed that Japan was welcomed to be associated as an observer along with the People's Republic of China.

* The 20th Anniversary of the International Angel Association (Nov 9, Gazipur)
The International Angel Association, a voluntary organization of Japan, celebrated its 20th anniversary of its entrance into activities in Bangladesh on November 9. Mr. M. Fazle Rabbi, Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur, Mr. C.Q.K. Mustaq Ahmed, Director General, NGO Affairs Bureau, Mrs. Mariko Higashimura, Chairperson, International Angel Association of Japan, and other distinguished guests were present along with Ambassador Horiguchi.

The association has been significantly contributing to improve the lives of Bangladeshi people, in particular, the less fortunate and marginalized groups of Gazipur. It has been very active in the fields of female education, technical training, agricultural training, student scholarships, construction of schools and health services including sanitation.

Japanese government, under its program of Japanese Grant for the Grassroots and Human Development Projects, has been extending financial assistance of US$8.3 million to 114 projects covering 94 national and international NGOs including the International Angel Association.

Ambassador Horiguchi made a following speech:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_angelassociation091105.html
International Angel Association (in Japanese)
http://www.angel-ngo.gr.jp

* $6.4 Million Grant Aid for Portable Steel Bridges (Nov 10, Dhaka)
On November 10, Ambassador Horiguchi and Mr. Md. Ismail Zabihullah, Secretary, Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh, signed an agreement concerning Japan's grant aid for portable steel bridges which amounts to 679 million yen (approximately Taka 40 crore/US$6.4 million).

The project will be executed by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). It will improve 92 dilapidated bridges in rural areas and install portable steel bridges at crucial locations of major rural roads. It is expected to greatly contribute to better transportation networks in those areas.

Since 1994, Japanese Government has supplied 230 portable steel bridges in Bangladesh.
Press Release is posted on the following website at:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/pr_portablebridges101105.html

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[5] Special Essay "Walking with the Angels" (Mr. Md. Azizul Bari, Executive Director, International Angel
Association)

I had the opportunity to learn the Japanese language here at Dhaka Japanese Language School supported by the Embassy of Japan in 1982 when I was an undergraduate student. It was then I got interested in Japanese culture and their ways of life. Later I got the chance to study Master's course in International Cooperation at Kobe University in Japan.

In 1971, when I was only nine and a primary school student, the war of independence took place. After the liberation war, I started going to school again regularly. On my way to school, I saw a lot of children from villages sleeping on the pavement. I always wondered if I had any chance in future to work for these down ? trodden children. I didn't have any resources then but the dream has been always in my heart.

International Angel Association (IAA) began their activities in 1982 under the slogan "Love over the world" in Itami city, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Mrs. Yuriko Kawamura started this programme by her strong inspiration that she got through her younger daughter who gradually became disabled. I feel greatly privileged and honoured to be able to associate myself with IAA. But I still think it's a miracle how I became associated with this association.

It was in April of 1985 when I first came to know about IAA and their intention to help distressed children of Bangladesh. I was only 22 and had no prior job experience but IAA chose me as staff and I started working very gladly with them whom I could share my dream with.

It was a small start with 12 children at Mirpur, Dhaka. Later on, IAA got registered at the Government of Bangladesh. We purchased land at Konabari village in Gazipur district and the Angel Home was built where 70 children were accommodated. Those children from different families and backgrounds who did not have parents with no proper education came to the Angel Home. It was very difficult to have them learn discipline at once. However, once they started going to school, a window in front of them opened up. They became interested in art, music, sports and studies. I always told those children:

It's not important where you come from; it's important where you go. Education is the eye of a person, if you have an eye, you can see the dream and if you have dream you can run towards the dream.

Students of the Angel Home are now studying at different levels. Some are studying in universities while others are working in different organisations. It is worth while mentioning that at the moment, two boys are studying in Japan.

In order to develop nation's human resource, development is most important. IAA has come a long way of 20 years. For the past three years, we have provided women in rural areas with technical trainings on agriculture, tailoring, handicrafts, computer and a literacy programme other than running an orphanage. So far, we have built 24 schools in different areas of Bangladesh, providing 3600 poor and meritorious students with monthly stipend, and built 3 community libraries. A health care centre has also been established inKonabari Complex.

Most members of IAA in Japan are women who have been carrying out our activities since the beginning. Every year, more than 100 Japanese people visit us through a work camp, a study tour and research programme. This creates a bridge of friendship between Japan and Bangladesh. I always believe that it is very important to live peacefully in order to be able to know each other.

For the past 20 years, we had to overcome a lot of hurdles and experience ups and downs but with cordial cooperation from our friends here and in Japan, we are here where we are today.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to all the members, associates, sponsors and well- wishers for their kind cooperation, long assistance and partnership in our development activities.

We also extend our sincere thanks to all the agencies, organizations and well-wishers in Bangladesh whose support shows us the direction of our long journey.

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