[1] Message from Ambassador Horiguchi "Thoughts on Suicide Bombings"
The political trend in Bangladesh is expected to turn as the current government is scheduled to resign in next October, handing over power to the caretaker government. And the next general election will be held in January 2007.

Against a background of this schedule, Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) has been causing disorder and bewilderment in the Bangladesh society. Their strategy is something which has not been seen in Bangladesh before; expanding its target to judges, Minister for Law, Justice & Parliament Affairs and schools; warning of an attack and carrying it out; and evolving violent tactics including suicide bombings. Since the simultaneous bomb attacks on August 17, JMB is said to be responsible for the deaths and injuries of two judges, officers at courts and law offices and police officers in addition to many general people.

Journalists and business circles recognized these attacks as a challenge against the Bangladesh Constitution and the nation itself. They appealed that all political parties and people concerned should set aside their differences and be united through a consensus dialogue in order to tackle this national crisis. We do hope that the whole nation tackles this national crisis as quickly as possible.

On the other hand, the objective of JMB, "the creation of a country ruled by the Islamic Law", lacks practical sense and does not seem to get support from the public. I wonder if this would be a wake-up call to the government by young members of JMB in exchange of their lives. There is no way to forgive them for their killing of innocent people; however, we may be able to understand that they want Bangladesh to overcome confrontational politics and be united for development in order to create more jobs through accelerated economic development and realize social justice through improved governance. If these come true, the souls of people who were killed in their vicious attacks would be healed and there would be no or much fewer heinous incidents.

We continue to assist the Bangladesh Government to improve governance and promote economic development in order to realize these aims.

(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

[2] Upcoming Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* Reports of Returned Japan Development Scholarship Fellows (Dec 11, Dhaka)
On December 11, 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

* Seminar on Rural Development and Local Governance (Dec 14, Dhaka)
Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will organize a seminar "Reviewing Bangladesh Models for Rural Development and Local Governance" on December 14 from 10am to 5pm at LGED Bhaban Auditorium. H.E. Mr. Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Minister for LGRD&C, Ambassador Horiguchi and other distinguished guests will be present.

On the occasion of inception of Participatory Rural Development Project, Phase 2 (PRDP-2), this seminar aims at exchanging views among specialists in participatory rural development and local governance on Bangladesh models for better local governance at grass-root level to promote rural and regional development.


* Seminar on Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Activities in Bangladesh (Dec 15, Dhaka)
Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh (ERD), in cooperation with JICA, will hold a seminar on Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) activities in Bangladesh on December 15 at ERD. The seminar
will be chaired by Mr. Badiur Rahman, Additional Secretary or ERD.

* Seminar on Total Quality Management (Jan 27-28, Dhaka)
Seminar on Total Quality Management (TQM) will be organized by JBCCI for its Member Organizations from January 27 to 28, 2006. Collaborating organizations for this event are Bangladesh AOTS Alumni Society (BAAS) - a member of JBCCI and Bangladesh Society for Total Quality Management (BSTQM) which have been the pioneers in promoting TQM in Bangladesh on voluntary basis for more than one decade.

Resource people for this seminar will be a group of TQM experts of BAAS & BSTQM led by Mr. AMM Khairul Bashar, a renowned international personality.

You have to be a member of JBCCI to attend this seminar and each member organization of JBCCI is requested to nominate maximum two appropriate people from its own organization or from its business associates to attend this 2-day seminar.

The nominations may kindly be sent along with full payment for registration either in cash or by account payee cheque in favour of "Japan - Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry" to JBCCI office by 5.1.2006 (Thu) to make the seminar successful. Please mention the full name, designation, mailing address, phone & fax numbers and e-mail address of each of the nominated persons for the sake of our smooth follow-up communications.

JBCCI Office
Tel/Fax: 886-0105
E-mail: jbcci@citech-bd.com
http://www.jetro.go.jp/bangladesh/eng/jbcci/index.html

[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations

* Signing Ceremony for Japan-Bangladesh Friendship School (Dec 11, Dhaka)
A signing ceremony of the project for development of Japan-Bangladesh Friendship School was held on December 11 at the Embassy of Japan. Ambassador Horiguichi and Mr. Imamuddin Ahmed Choudhury, Executive Director of the Society for Advancement of Rural Areas (SARA), signed the document.

SARA has been engaged in training programmes with the aim to enhance education and employment of women in rural areas in Sylhet. It is going to add facility to accommodate 120 middle school level students with the assistance of Japanese Government's Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Grant for Human Security Projects (GGHSP).

Acknowledging Japanese assistance, SARA named the school Japan-Bangladesh Friendship School. The late Mr. Yoshiro Kawashima, the then President at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, organized a fund raising for the training programme.

Press release will be posted on the Embassy's website at:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/pdf/pr_sara111205.pdf

* Seminar on Agriculture and Food Eradication (Dec 10, Dhaka)
JICA Alumni Association organized a seminar "Agriculture and eradication of food deprivation in the rural areas of Bangladesh" at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium on December 10. Ambassador Horiguchi, Prof. S.M.A. Faiz, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, and other distinguished guests were present.

Ambassador's speech will be posted on the Embassy's website at:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_jicaaa101205.html
The Daily Star's article on this seminar is posted on its website at:
http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/12/11/d51211060466.htm

* Bangladesh Investment Seminar (Dec 7, Tokyo)
Bangladesh Investment Seminar was held on December 7 at the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organized by the Japan-Bangladesh Joint Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBJCCEC), UNIDO and the Embassy of Bangladesh in Japan. About 60 business people discussed challenges and prospects in furthering economic relations between Japan and Bangladesh.

Materials distributed at the seminar will be posted on the Embassy's website at:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/business/

* Review Seminar on Strengthening Primary Teacher Training (Dec 6, Mymensingh)
A Review Seminar on Strengthening Primary Teacher Training on Science and Mathematics was organized at NAPE on December 6. Ambassador Horiguchi and Mr. A.K.M. Shamsuddin, Secretary, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, and other distinguished guests were present.

This project has been implemented by 11 donors including Japan in order to strengthen primary education in Bangladesh. Japan has been providing technical assistance of teacher training, curriculum improvement, evaluation scheme and development of educational package on science and mathematics.

Ambassador's speech will be posted on the Embassy's website at:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_nape061205.html

* Five New Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Arrived in
Bangladesh (Dec 5)
On December 5, five new Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) arrived in Bangladesh in order to extend cooperation in such sectors as primary education, physical education, computer technique, vocational training. They will work in public organizations of Bangladesh for the next two years.

Since March 1973, JICA has dispatched a total of 859 JOCVs to Bangladesh in various fields as agriculture, forestry and fisheries, processing, maintenance and management, civil engineering and construction, health and hygiene, education, culture and sports. At present, there are as many as 53 volunteers engaged in various activities throughout Bangladesh, all speaking the Bengali language.

Press release on new JOCVs and their picture are posted on the Embassy's website at:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/pr/pr_jocv051205.html

* Japanese Cultural Fair & Japan-Bangladesh Business Forum (Dec 2-4, Chittagong)
Nippon Academy and the Embassy of Japan organized Japanese Cultural Fair on December 2 in Chittagong and on December 4 in Rangamati. Ikebana Exhibition, Japanese Language Speech Contest, Seminar on Study in Japan and Japanese Film Show were held.

Also organized was Japan-Bangladesh Business Forum. Participants, including Ambassador Horiguchi and Mr. Nurul Islam, Honorary Consul General of Japan, discussed challenges and prospects in furthering economic relations between Japan and Chittagong.

Ambassador Horiguchi made a following speech at the business forum:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/speeches/sp_chittagong031205.html

[4] Special Interview with Mr. Masaaki Taniai, Member of the House of Councillors
Mr. Masaaki Taniai, Member of the House of Councillors, visited Bangladesh from November 20 to 21. On this occasion, Ms. Saori Nagase, Editor of the E-Bulletin, conducted an exclusive interview with Mr. Taniai. Below is the text of the interview:

Q: This is your first visit to Bangladesh. What was your image of Bangladesh and how did it change after seeing around in Dhaka?
A: I had an image that Bangladesh is a very populous country. I have been stationed in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and experienced the heat and stuffiness, which are characteristic of most South Asian countries.

As I saw Dhaka with my own eyes, it was not as crowded as I had expected it to be. It may be because I did not have time to visit Sadarghat and other parts of Old Dhaka. When I visited the National Parliament and the late President Ziaur Rahman's mausoleum at night, they were illuminated and looked beautiful. My favorite pastime is photography. So, I took many pictures there. I was impressed by a bridge which I crossed over on the way.

Q: What is important for Bangladesh to achieve economic development?
A: I pondered what to do if I were a Member of the Parliament here. It is not easy at all. Fundamental infrastructure, in particular, electricity, roads and water, is indispensable for Bangladesh to achieve economic development. Good governance is a crucial necessity in order to get rid of hindrances in building those infrastructures. On the other hand, it is important to make best use of potentials such as abundant labors and human resources with good language ability.

Q: What led you to become a politician?
A: I had been engaged in humanitarian assistance before I became a politician. I had gathered experiences to assist others to make their lives better. However, as I faced the problem of recipients' dependence on aids, I wanted to shift my efforts to eradicating homelessness and poverty per se from a broader perspective. I had a difficulty in achieving more than helping people in front of me and then, I wanted to work for humanitarian assistance as a politician.

Q: Would you like to leave a message to our readers?
A: I understand that not many members of Japanese Parliaments visit Bangladesh. I would like to see many people from various backgrounds in order to build firm amicable relations between Japan and Bangladesh. Also, Okayama Prefecture, my home prefecture, has a town called Kurashiki, which prospers with its textile industry. Small and medium scale companies there are very much interested in business opportunities in Bangladesh. I would like to build partnerships between Okayama and Bangladesh.

[5] ICDDR,B's Special Report (2)
"A joint collaborative project in health sector of ICDDR,B and Japan" (Dr. Ishtiaque Zaman, Head, External Relations & Institutional Development, Executive Director's Division, ICDDR,B)

On 23 November 2005, the Japanese Ambaasador to Bangladesh, H.E. Mr Matsushiro Horiguchi, handed over the formal approval by the Government of Japan to Executive Director of International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dr David Sack, to launch a collaborative research project entitled "Improved Health for the Poor: Health, Nutrition, Population Research". The project involves ICDDR,B's scientists and researchers from the national institutions. The recommendations of this project will be implemented and are expected to help improve the health, nutrition, and population sector in Bangladesh.

On the occasion of the completion of thirty years (1972-2002) of diplomatic relations in 2003, the Government of Japan wrote off the entire debt of Bangladesh to Japan and suggested that this fund (grant from the previous debt) be used for development purposes. This newly-approved research project will be funded by the Government of Japan from the Debt Relief Grant Assistance (DRGA) Counterpart Fund. ICDDR,B will receive Taka 46 crore, equivalent to over US$7 million, under this grant.

The objectives of this grant are several. Within the context of the Poverty Reduction Strategic Paper (PRSP) and the MDGs, the project will emphasize reducing severe malnutrition, high mortality, and fertility, promoting healthy life styles, and reducing risk factors to human health from environmental, economic, social and behavioral causes with sharp focus on improving health of the poor.

Priority objectives, by which the success of the project should be measured, will be (1) reducing maternal mortality ratio, (2) reducing total fertility rate, (3) reducing malnutrition, (4) reducing infant mortality rate/(Under-5 mortality rate), and (5) reducing the burden of tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases.

A Steering Committee is ultimately responsible for implementation of all activities under this project. This Steering Committee approves the annual work plan of the project each year. It has a 22-member Committee, with the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Ministry as its chairman. Overall, ICDDR,B is responsible for implementation of this project. The research results from this project are feeding into the Operations Plan of the Health, Nutrition, Population Sector Programme. The ultimate beneficiaries from such linkages will be the poor people of Bangladesh. It is hoped that Bangladesh will provide to the world more success stories in many new areas of health research from this collaborative project.

Health Secretary Mr Abu Md. Maniruzzaman Khan was present during this simple ceremony. From the Japanese Embassy in Bangladesh, First Secretary and Medical Attache of Japan, Dr. Atsuhiro Kosho, and Second Secretary Mr. Shinya Tsuruda, were present at this handover ceremony. ICDDR,B's Dr Ishtiaque Zaman is the Project Director of this collaborative project involving Japan-GoB-ICDDR,B.

ICDDR,B
http://www.icddrb.org

[6] Editor's Note

As we approach to the end of year, I cannot help but look back things that happened in this year and summarize the year 2005. Bangladesh is suffering continuous bomb attacks since August and I hope they should not ruin positive aspects that have been achieved in various sectors.

Editor, Saori Nagase

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