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Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (42nd issue / Jan 19, 2006)
- Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh -
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[Table of Contents]
[1] Messages from Ambassador Horiguchi
"New Year's Greeting"
[2] Upcoming Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Seminar on Disaster Management (Jan 21, Dhaka)
* Japan Provides 20 Rainwater Reservoirs (Jan 24, Kalmakanda)
* Sustainable Arsenic Mitigation Opening Ceremony (Jan 26, Jessore)
* Seminar on Total Quality Management (Jan 27-28, Dhaka)
[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Bangladeshis Awarded at Photo Competition in Japan (Jan 1, Tokyo)
[4] Information
* Closed Days of the Embassy in 2006
[5] Editor's Note
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[1] Messages from Ambassador Horiguchi
"New Year's Greeting"
A happy new year to you all! This is the third time that I am welcoming the New Year in Dhaka and I am glad to greet you all again.
I enjoyed a long holiday since the end of last year through the Eid. I stayed in Dhaka and, taking this opportunity, read a book titled "People in Asia who walk with us (Asiani tomoni ayumu hitoga iru)." It was written by Mr. Kazuyuki Kawahara of the Asia Arsenic Network and was published last November.
I learned a lot from this book in addition to the basic understanding that I had obtained from my two visits to Asia Arsenic Network's projects in Jessore.
Mr. Kawahara quit working for a big newspaper company when he became interested in the arsenic pollution in the Toroku mine in Miyazaki prefecture, Japan. He started tackling this problem and later on, extended his expertise to Bangladesh. He encouraged other people including professors in various fields and students at Miyazaki University to get involved in arsenic mitigation. Through solving problems one by one on trial and error basis, he and his colleagues produced appreciable results in supporting those who suffered from the
arsenic pollution in Bangladesh.
I was very impressed to know that he broadened the network and utilized his experiences in Bangladesh to further tackle the arsenic pollution in India, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Nepal.
The book reminded me of another book that I read soon after I arrived in Dhaka two years and eight months ago. The book titled "Hot Wind from Shaplaneer" was about NGO activities by the Japanese young people
who came to Bangladesh right after the country's independence. I was touched that they established the foundation of the NGO's current admirable activities without any previous examples or models to follow.
I hope that more people write about their valuable experiences so that they are shared by others as much as possible. Useful experiences must have been accumulated by other NGOs as well as Shaplaneer and Asia Arsenic Network, experts of JICA, Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, and those who accomplished such projects as power plants, fertilizer plants, bridges in private companies.
Further, I hope that these two books should be translated into English, even only their summaries, so that non-Japanese people can learn about their experiences and great efforts. It would promote the partnership between Japan and Bangladesh and enhance the understanding in the international community about Japan's contributions in this country. English translation would not be easy, but I believe that it would bring good results for the work.
We, at the Embassy of Japan, intend to make greater efforts to check, improve, and publicize Official Development Aid. I would like to encourage all people in NGOs and private companies to strengthen their
publicity efforts.
As for Japan-Bangladesh relations, there were many VIP visits last year; Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia paid an official visit to Japan last July as the first Bangladeshi Prime Minister in eight years and from Japan, Senior Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr. Takayoshi Tsuneda, and Senior Vice-Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shuzen Tanigawa and Mr. Ichiro Aisawa, visited Bangladesh. The governments of Japan and Bangladesh made several important agreements on the occasion of Honorable Prime Minister's visit to Japan. On the basis of these agreements, this year should be a year to further enhance the Japan-Bangladesh relationship through close cooperation among all concerned.
I would like to close my New Year greeting by wishing you health and happiness to you all.
(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
* Seminar on Disaster Management (Jan 21, Dhaka)
JICA Alumni Association Bangladesh will organize a seminar on "Disaster Management in Bangladesh" at Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Management (BIAM) from 09:30AM on January 21.
Honorable Minister for Food and Disaster Management, H.E. Mr. Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yousuf, and other distinguished guest will attend the seminar. Keynote presentation will be made by Dr. Aslam Alam, Training and Awareness Specialist and Deputy Team Leader, Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP).
* Japan Provides 20 Rainwater Reservoirs (Jan 24, Kalmakanda)
A handing-over ceremony of 20 rainwater reservoirs (RWRs) will be held on January 24 in Kalmakanda, Netrokona District. A Japanese NGO, World Vision Japan, will hand 20 RWRs to the community people under the Grant Aid of US$78,191 (approximately Tk53 lac) from the Government of Japan.
In addition to the construction of RWRs, World Vision Japan has been implementing training and awareness campaign for safe drinking water. It also has been active in education and health sectors in Kalmakanda since 1994.
(World Vision Japan)
http://www.worldvision.or.jp/English/index.html
* Sustainable Arsenic Mitigation Opening Ceremony (Jan 26, Jessore)
On January 26, an opening ceremony for the sustainable arsenic mitigation under integrated local government system in Jessore will be held, chaired by Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Mohmmad Abdul Wazed. Secretary from the Local Government Department (LGD), Mr. SM Jahrul Islam, Counselor from the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Masahiko Kiya, and other distinguished guests will be present.
This project has been launched last December in two upazilas in Jessore and will continue till December, 2008. Asia Arsenic Network, under the contract with JICA, carries out a comprehensive project under close coordination with local and central governments of Bangladesh.
(Asia Arsenic Network)
http://www.asia-arsenic.net/index-e.htm
http://aan-bangladesh.com/
* Seminar on Total Quality Management (Jan 27-28, Dhaka)
Seminar on Total Quality Management (TQM) will be organized by JBCCI at the auditorium of SEL Centre from January 27 to 28. Collaborating organizations for this event are Bangladesh AOTS Alumni Society (BAAS) - a member of JBCCI and Bangladesh Society for Total Quality Management (BSTQM).
The aim of this course is to provide the participants an in-depth knowledge and understanding on different issues relating to implementation of total quality management in any organisation. The course will examine a range of quality tools and techniques of TQM. 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.
About 30 seats are still available for the non-members. The registration fee is Tk600 for the members of JBCCI/BAAS/BSTQM and Tk1,000 for non-members per participants. The deadline for the registration is January 24.
The program is as follows:
Friday, January 27
09:00-09:30 Inaugurations
09:30-10:00 Tea Break
10:00-12:15 Concept of Quality
12:15-14:30 Prayer & Lunch Break
14:30-15:30 Characteristics of TQM in Japanese Enterprises
15:30-16:00 Tea Break
16:00-17:00 Impact of TQM on Corporate Performance
Thursday, January 28
09:00-10:30 Implementing TQM
10:30-11:00 Tea Break
11:00-13:00 Implementing TQM (continued)
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:30 Impact of TQM
15:30-16:00 Tea Break
16:00-17:00 Summary & Closing
For more information, please contact JBCCI.
(JBCCI Office)
Tel/Fax: 886-0105
E-mail: jbcci@citech-bd.com
http://www.jetro.go.jp/bangladesh/eng/jbcci/index.html
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[3] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Bangladeshis Awarded at Photo Competition in Japan (Jan 1, Tokyo)
Two Bangladeshi photojournalists, Mr. Shahadat Parvez and Mr. Monirul Alam, were awarded gold medals at the 66th International Photographic Salon of Japan. 8,012 photographs from 39 countries competed in the event and 130 of them were awarded gold medals. The 130 photographs will tour major Japanese cities around a year.
The article on this topic is posted at the following website at:
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/01/08/d601081403106.htm
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[4] Information
* Closed Days of the Embassy in 2006
The Embassy of Japan will be closed (in addition to Fridays and Saturdays) in the year of 2006 as follows:
March 26: Independence Day
May 11: Buddha Purnima
August 16: Janmastami
October 24, 25 and 26: Eid-ul-Fitr
December 31: Year End Holiday
This information is posted on the following website:
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/embassy/holidays.html
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[5] Editor's Note
A happy new year! Taking this chance, I would like to thank you again for your interests in Japan-Bangladesh relations and subscribing to our E-Bulletin. We hope to make this E-Bulletin more interactive and appreciate your comments and ideas.
Saori Nagase, Editor
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Embassy of Japan
Plot No. 5 & 7, Dutabash Road,
Baridhara, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Phone (880-2)881-0087
FAX (880-2)882-6737
http://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/
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