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Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (54th Issue / July 26, 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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Foreign Minister Aso’s Visit to Dhaka (Jul 24-25)
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Ambassador Inoue’s Visit to DCCI (Jul 11)
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Japan’s Assistance for Portable Steel Bridge (Jul 9)
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Seminar on BIMSTEC-Japan Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation (Jul 8, Dhaka)
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New Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Arrived (Jun 30,
Dhaka)
[2]
Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellow
(Mr. Byomkesh Talukder, Evaluation Officer & Faculty
Member, Bangladesh Public Administration Training Center)
[3]
Editor's Note
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[1]
Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
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Foreign Minister Aso’s Visit to Dhaka (Jul 24-25)
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, H.E. Mr. Taro Aso,
visited Dhaka from July 24 to 25. He had talks with
Honourable President, H.E. Dr. Prof. Iajuddin Ahmed,
Honourable Prime Minister, H.E. Begum Khaleda Zia, and
Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. M. Morshed Khan.
Pictures of the meetings are posted on the following
website:
http://www.mofa.go.jp
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Ambassador Inoue’s Visit to DCCI (Jul 11)
On
July 11, Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. Masayuki Inoue,
visited the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
exchanged views and opinions with President of DCCI, Mr.
M.A. Momen, and other members.
In
his remarks, Ambassador Inoue praised the remarkable
achievement that the Bangladeshi economy has made in
recent years and assured Japan’s commitment to the private
sector development, including supporting the Bangladeshi
government’s efforts to improve trade and investment
environment, providing assistance for infrastructure
development, and extending assistance for human resource
development in the private sector.
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Japan’s Assistance for Portable Steel Bridge (Jul 9)
On
July 9, the Government of Japan and the Government of
Bangladesh signed an agreement on Japan’s grant aid of 700
million yen (approximately 41 crore taka) for portable
steel bridges.
Japan will provide Bangladesh with grant assistance to
construct portable steel bridges in rural areas. The
project will be executed by the Local Government
Engineering Department (LGED).
The
project will greatly contribute to transportation networks
in 14 districts by improving 30 dilapidated bridges. In
addition, portable steel bridges will be installed at
crucial locations of major rural roads, where
transportation of goods and people are being impeded by
existing water channels.
Since 1994, Japan has supplied 266 portable steel bridges
to Bangladesh.
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Seminar on BIMSTEC-Japan Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation (Jul 8, Dhaka)
On
July 8, BIISS (Bangladesh Institute of International and
Strategic Studies) organized a seminar “BIMSTEC-Japan
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation: Bangladesh
Perspective,” in collaboration with other think-tanks of
BIMSTEC member countries. Minister for Foreign Affairs,
H.E. Mr. M. Morshed Khan, Ambassador Inoue, and other
distinguished guests were present.
At
an inauguration session, Ambassador Inoue made a speech,
arguing that it is crucial for the countries in the region
to work together in order to strengthen the economic
relations. For that end, he stressed that the BIMSTEC
should be utilized to link the ASEAN and the SAARC.
*
New Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Arrived (Jun 30,
Dhaka)
On
June 30, five new Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers
(JOCV) arrived in Bangladesh in order to extend
cooperation in sectors such as primary school education,
rural community development, science and mathematics
education, and environmental education. They will work in
public organizations for two years.
Since 1973, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
has dispatched a total of 895 JOCVs to Bangladesh in
various fields as agriculture, forestry and fisheries,
processing, maintenance and management, civil engineering
and construction, health and hygiene, education, and
culture and sports.
Currently, 55 volunteers are engaged in various activities
throughout Bangladesh. All of them have a good command of
Bengali language.
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[2]
Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellow
(Mr. Byomkesh Talukder, Evaluation Officer & Faculty
Member, Bangladesh Public Administration Training Center)
I
worked for the Bangladesh Public Administration Training
Center (BPATC), the apex training and research institute
in public sector, in order to broaden my perspective and
to improve my career prospects. I was an Evaluation
Officer and Faculty Member there. BPATC contributes to the
development of knowledge, which can solve public problems
and evaluate public policies. This training and research
institute serves the society by improving public policies
and the performance of the government.
At
BPATC, my core responsibilities were to evaluate various
training courses, to design and organize environmental
training courses, workshops and seminars, and to conduct
research on topics such as environmental management,
pollution, and law. I believe that the course on
“Environmental Policy” enabled me to utilize my knowledge
in the concerned field.
A
healthy natural environment is a fundamental prerequisite
for sustainable human development and human survival.
Bangladesh faces constant challenges of rampant poverty,
high population density with an increasing population
growth, recurring natural disasters, and dwindling natural
resource base. It is one of the developing countries with
a low resource base and a very low land-man ratio, and is
threatened by both natural hazards and over exploitation.
The vast majority of people live below the poverty line
and almost exclusively off the natural resource base; this
is why the natural resource bases are under serious
threat. Therefore, my research proposal is “Application of
Geographic Information System (GIS) in Recognition &
Modeling the Natural Resource Management at Micro Level: A
Case Study from Bangladesh” and it will be of great
importance for Bangladesh.
Sustainable development requires economic growth with the
highest possible consideration to environment protection
and management. Sustainable development maintains
ecosystems and ecological processes, optimizing
sustainable yields from natural resources. The economy
should grow so as to be able to generate enough outputs to
make up for environmental damages. It is obvious that
sustainable development and effective nature conservation
cannot be achieved without the other, and therefore, there
must be integration of conservation and economic
development. Though these ideas are very important for
highly exploited and densely populated countries like
Bangladesh, the Bangladeshi society lacks them because of
changes in social structure and functions. Therefore,
study in environmental policy bear a significant meaning
for Bangladesh from its development perspectives.
My
purpose of applying to the Masters program is to both
expand my knowledge and to create additional opportunities
for myself in future. I believe that the Masters program
will help me to pursue a successful career in the field of
environmental management and policy. Upon the completion
of my studies in Japan, I will return to Bangladesh. I
aspire to devote myself to training and continue my
research work in training & research institute where I can
serve my country more. The course on Environmental Policy
in Japan will help me to develop skills to understand the
multidimensional relationship of environment with
development. The study based on Japan’s experience will
help me to conduct a detailed study of the environmental
policy issues in Bangladesh, which will certainly help me
to deliver a better policy option in environmental
research of Bangladesh.
I
hope to become a part of the dynamic culture of Japan,
which will give me a leading edge to work effectively in
team. I would be delighted to join Hiroshima University in
Japan for my higher study. I look forward to the
interesting and rewarding future through higher study and
research in Hiroshima University.
As
this program is designed to enhance the analytical
capacities and skills of those working in the environment
sector and in the formulation and implementation of
environmental management and policy and the promotion of
social development, it will provide me an opportunity to
achieve expertise relevant to current issues in
environmental management, policy and social & economical
development of Bangladesh.
(Mr. Talukder is a JDS 2006 fellow and leaving for Japan
to study at Hiroshima 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 Mrs. Chikako Aso, the wife of Foreign Minister
of Japan, to the Maternal and Child Health Training
Institute (MCHTI) in Azimpur. I have not been to any kind
of medical institute in Bangladesh before and it was a
learning experience. I saw both of pains to give a birth
and joy to hold a baby. I am proud that the Government of
Japan assisted the MCHTI’s effort so that more mothers can
experience a safe delivery.
Editor, Saori Nagase
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