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Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (53rd Issue / July 6, 2006)
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Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh -
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This E-Bulletin is to share updated information and
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[Table of Contents]
[1]
Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
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Japan’s Debt Relief Cancellation of Tk900 crore (Jul 5)
*
Japan’s Support for Improvement of Road Transportation
(Jul 3)
*
Japan’s Support for Emergency Obstetric Care Services (Jun
28)
*
Japan’s Loan Assistance of US$218 million (Jun 26, Dhaka)
*
Japan’s Grant Aid for Meteorological Radar System (Jun 25,
Dhaka)
*
Workshop on Parasitic Diseases (Jun 24, Dhaka)
*
Japan’s Technical Assistance in Power Sector (Jun 23,
Dhaka)
[2]
Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellow
(Mr. A.H.M. Jahangir, Senior Assistant Chief, ERD)
[3]
Editor's Note
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[1]
Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
*
Japan’s Debt Relief Cancellation of Tk900 crore (Jul 5)
The
annual budget of Bangladesh for FY 2006/07 includes the
allocation of Tk900 crore, which became available by the
Government of Japan’s debt cancellation, to 37
projects/programs.
The
Government of Japan and the Government of Bangladesh
exchanged Notes on Japan’s debt relief measure in the form
of cancellation on March 21, 2004. The cancellation of the
payment is made by the Japan Bank for International
Cooperation (JBIC) every fiscal year, and the two
governments confirmed the amount this year of
\16,320,338,780 on February 22. They agreed that the
amount should utilized to reduce poverty and promote
social and economic development of Bangladesh.
*
Japan’s Support for Improvement of Road Transportation
(Jul 3)
On
July 3, the Government of Japan approved the utilization
of the Japanese Counter Fund of Tk 18.46 crore for
projects to install sodium lights on different roads and
replace various vehicles and equipments for maintenance in
Dhaka City.
As
Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) constructs new roads in order
to ease traffic congestion, some roads lack enough lights
or broken lights are left broken. The Fund will be
utilized to improve light and maintenance situation upon
the request of DCC.
*
Japan’s Support for Emergency Obstetric Care Services (Jun
28)
On
June 28, the Government of Japan approved the utilization
of the Japanese Counter Fund of Tk10 crore for projects to
strengthen Emergency Obstetric Care (EOC) services.
Japan provided Bangladesh with grant assistance of \831
million (approximately Tk52 crore) in 2001 and 2003 in
order to assist Bangladesh to procure EOC equipments and
machineries. However, floods in 2004 caused massive
damages on those equipments and therefore, Japan approved
the procurement in order to repair them.
By
improving and maintaining the level of EOC, 6 million
people will benefit.
*
Japan’s Loan Assistance of US$218 million (Jun 26, Dhaka)
On
June 26, the Government of Japan and the Government of
Bangladesh signed an agreement on Japan’s loan assistance
of \24.9 billion (approximately Tk1,462.4 crore). This
loan assistance is provided for the implementation of
three projects; Karnaphuli Water Supply Project (Tk717.8
crore), Grid Substations and Associated Transmission Lines
Development Project (Tk272.6 crore), and Telecommunication
Network Development Project (Tk 472.1 crore).
The
loan assistance carries 0.01% interest rate per annum with
a repayment period of 40 years including a grace period of
10 years. This highly concessional condition was recently
introduced by the Government of Japan to support
low-income countries to attain the MDGs. This is applied
to Bangladesh for the first time.
*
Japan’s Grant Aid for Meteorological Radar System (Jun 25,
Dhaka)
On
June 25, the Government of Japan and the Government of
Bangladesh signed an agreement on a Japan’s Grant Aid of
\803 million (approximately Tk47 crore) for the project to
improve meteorological radar systemin Cox’s Bazar and
Khepupara.
Bangladesh will construct new radar tower buildings and
install new radar systems at the Khepupara Meteorological
Radar Station under this second phase of the grant. It is
constructing a new radar tower building and radar system
at the Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Radar Station and a new
storm warning centre at the Bangladesh Meteorological
Department Head Office in Dhaka under the first phase.
The
grant is expected to greatly contribute to Bangladesh’s
efforts to monitor and forecast tropical cyclones and
early warning.
*
Workshop on Parasitic Diseases (Jun 24, Dhaka)
On
June 24, a workshop on “National Policy on Control of
Parasitic diseases & Strategy for Elimination of
Filariasis & Soil Transmitted Helminthes” was jointly
organized by the Japan International Development Agency (JICA),
the Government of Bangladesh, and WHO at BIAM. Minister
for Health and Family Welfare, H.E. Dr. Khondaker
Mosharraf Hossain, Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. Masayuki
Inoue, WHO Representative, Dr. Duangvadee Sungkhobol, and
other distinguished guests were present.
Ambassador Inoue expressed that the Government of Japan
intended to continue its support for Bangladesh to
implement the PRSP and its Health, Nutrition, and
Population Sector Program (HNPSP) and introduced several
initiatives that Japan has been taking to tackle health
problems in world wide.
*
Japan’s Technical Assistance in Power Sector (Jun 23,
Dhaka)
On
June 23, a Minute was signed between the JICA and the
Government of Bangladesh on Japan’s technical cooperation
for the Project on “Strengthening Management and
Performance Standards in Power Sector of Bangladesh
through Promotion of TQM (Total Quality Control).”
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[2]
Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellow
(Mr. A.H.M. Jahangir, Senior Assistant Chief, ERD)
First I would like to thank the authority of JDS for
selecting me as a JDS fellow for the year 2006-2007. After
joining a private bank, my immense interest to serve the
country and contribute to the development of the country
actively and directly induced me to join the Bangladesh
Civil Service (BCS). Officers of BCS Economic Cadre are
prime architects in formulating and implementing
development policies/plans/programs in the public sector
to achieve desired economic development of the country.
Bangladesh is a developing country with more than half of
its population living under poverty. Main objectives of
its development policies/plans/programs are to reduce the
number of poverty stricken people. Hence, the country
adopted its Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) with a
view to half its poverty stricken people by the year 2015.
To achieve this target, it has to achieve more than 7%
economic growth as enhanced economic growth is the most
effective way to reduce poverty. In order to achieve
higher economic growth and reduce poverty, the Bangladesh
government, together with NGOs and private sectors, has to
implement a great deal of development programs/projects
every year.
For
the last fifteen years, Bangladesh has achieved more than
5% economic growth and the poverty was reduced from 58.8%
to 41%. But this achievement is not sufficient to reach
the desired target. To get maximum benefits out of its
development activities, we have to invest our limited
resources to those sectors which will give maximum
returns. Hence, we have to find out most useful sectors
for us to invest our scarce resources. Moreover, we have
to establish industries which are more labor intensive so
that they can create more jobs and require raw materials
available in our country. On the other hand, we have to
improve our governance and undertake a lot of reform
measures in various sectors to get maximum benefits out of
our development activities. Therefore, my research plan is
“Role of Economic Growth in Reducing Poverty” and my
research activities during the study period in Japan will
cover the following areas;
(1)
Develop an Input-Output (I-O) model for Bangladesh, which
will help identify the probable roles of various economic
sectors in increasing GDP growth;
(2)
Develop a function model for GDP growth, which will also
signify the correlation between growth and poverty
reduction;
(3)
Study development strategies of neighboring countries
(Thailand, Vietnam, China, India) that have achieved
tremendous economic growth over the last few decades in
order to prepare realistic development policy/strategy for
Bangladesh;
(4)
Undertake study to find out which reforms will bring about
higher return to greater economic growth;
(5)
Undertake study to explore potential industries that have
bright future in Bangladesh; and
(6)
Prepare a 10-year-development action plan for Bangladesh
that will help achieve more than 7% economic growth
targeted in the PRSP in order to reduce poverty to the
desired level.
The
coveted MS course in Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
will enhance my academic and technical knowledge,
experience and expertise to analyze project planning/
preparation/ management/ evaluation and other related
matters to better understand the present day’s development
needs of Bangladesh and help me to analyze the above
mentioned critical areas which will ultimately help me to
discharge my duties and responsibilities as a civil
servant more effectively and efficiently.
(Mr. Jahangir is a JDS 2006 fellow and leaving for Japan
to study at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University for two
years.)
(Japan Development Scholarship for Bangladesh)
http://www.jice.org/english/jds/bangladesh_org.html
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[3]
Editor's Note
I
accompanied Ambassador Inoue to the National Martyrs’
Memorial at Savar. The park was well maintained and
flowers were in full bloom. The Ambassador laid flower and
we prayed that martyrs rest in peace. I was very impressed
with the architecture which looked like the mass of
spirits rising to the skies.
Editor, Saori Nagase
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