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Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (57th Issue / Sep 21, 2006)
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Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh -
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[Table of Contents]
[1]
Ambassador Inoue’s Message on the Occasion of Inauguration
of DAP-1 and DAP-2
[2]
Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
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Inauguration of DAP Fertilizer Company Ltd. (Sep 12,
Chittagong)
[3]
Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellow
(Md. Saidur Rahman, Bangladesh Railway)
[4]
Editor's Note
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[1]
Ambassador Inoue’s Message on the Occasion of Inauguration
of DAP-1 and DAP-2
On
September 12, 2006, the Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)
Fertilizer Company Ltd was inaugurated in Chittagong by
Honorable Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. I would like
to extend my sincere congratulations to the Government of
Bangladesh, especially the Ministry of Industries, the
Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Chemical Industries
Corporation, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC),
Nippon Export and Investment Insurance, and Toyo
Engineering Corporation of Japan for the successful
completion of the DAP-1 and DAP-2 units. I highly
appreciate the strenuous efforts made by all the concerned
parties in implementing the fertilizer project.
Recently, outstanding performance in the industrial sector
has made it possible to boost the national economy to
achieve a remarkable annual GDP growth rate of 6-7
percent. Alongside the progress made in the industrial
sector, agriculture remains very much the underpinning of
the economy, with more than half of the nation’s
population engaged in agriculture. It is important to
remember fertilizer has always been a force behind the
expansion of the agricultural production base, and will
remain as an important impetus for agricultural
development.
Since even before the independence of Bangladesh, Japan
has consistently assisted in developing the fertilizer
sector in this country. Fenchuganj Natural Gas Fertilizer
Factory, Ghorasal Urea Fertilizer Factory and Chittagong
Urea Fertilizer Factory are just a few examples of such
cooperation. The DAP-2 project is the first completed with
financing of JBIC’s buyer’s credit since the successful
installation of the Jamuna Fertilizer Factory in Tarakandi
in 1991, while JBIC has also lent other types of support
to the fertilizer sector in the past. I firmly believe
that the DAP Fertilizer Company will augment further
development of the fertilizer sector in Bangladesh. Japan
will continue to support all efforts of Bangladesh to
accelerate its economic progress.
Bangladesh is receiving greater attention recently from
the rest of the world, particularly from the business
community. As named as “Next-11” by a global financial
institution, Bangladesh has enormous potential in further
broadening its economic frontier. It is my hope that
Bangladesh will take significant steps toward further
economic gain by boosting production in its agricultural
as well as industrial sectors.
I
wish this company great success.
Long live the Japan-Bangladesh friendship.
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[2]
Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
*
Inauguration of DAP Fertilizer Company Ltd. (Sep 12,
Chittagong)
On
September 12, the inauguration of DAP Fertilizer Company
Ltd. was held with the attendance of Honourable Prime
Minister Khaleda Zia and other distinguished guests both
from Japan and Bangladesh.
The
Government of Japan assisted the implementation of the
DAP-2 project. It assisted the cost of Tk3.88 billion
among the total cost of Tk5.19 billion.
The
factory, comprising DAP-1 and DAP-2, produces
approximately 500 thousand DAP fertilizer per annum. This
will contribute to ameliorating Bangladesh’s reliance on
imports.
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[3]
Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) Fellow
(Mr. Md. Saidur Rahman, Bangladesh Railway)
I
have been working with Bangladesh Railway, the single
largest Government-owned & managed transportation agency
of the country, as a member of BCS (Railway Engineering)
Cadre since 2003.
The
Bangladesh economy is burdened by major transportation
constraints resulting from a combination of factors -
physical, developmental and institutional-cum-policy
framework-related which lead to lower efficiency, higher
transport costs, and more significantly, “transport
unreliability” with major adverse consequence for the
economy and environment.
Being the administrative, commercial and cultural capital
of a highly populous country, the Mega City Dhaka has a
major role to play in the socioeconomic development of the
country and in the era of regional and sub-regional
cooperation. But the existing transportation system is a
major bottleneck for the development of the city.
Unplanned urbanization, especially poor transportation
planning and lower land utilization efficiency, has turned
the city into a dangerous urban jungle. Its traffic
congestion not only causes increased costs, loss of time
and psychological strain, but also poses serious threats
to our socioeconomic environment.
With its present situation of traffic systems, the city
stands in dire need for a radical transformation in the
structural sense. We need to take comprehensive view of
the present shortcomings and future potentialities of the
metropolis to identify and work out plans for formulating
strategies to standardize efficiency of traffic flow and
effectiveness of transportation system. Effective and
planned integration of different modes of transport can
change Dhaka’s present scenario and ensure sustainable
mass transportation system for the next generation.
In
Japan, I would like to perform a study on the feasibility
of a demand-responsive and energy-efficient integrated
multi-modal mass transit system that would be economically
and financially viable and environment-friendly for the
Metropolitan Dhaka City and ensure a sustainable
transportation system to mitigate the sufferings of
unbearable traffic congestion. Japan’s mass transit
systems as well as railways are the envy of the world;
fast, clean, frequent and punctual; they are a daunting
example to other nations of what can be achieved when
government, business and science co-operate for the
benefit of all. The Japanese system of urban
transportation by rail, and its medium-range, high-speed
railway network is a model for all to emulate. I would
like to share the experience of Japan's mass transit
development strategies so that I could contribute to the
development process of a sustainable mass transit system
for the capital.
I
believe, the specialized Master's Program on Environmental
Policy of Hiroshima University and its diversified,
multi-national, cross-cultural experiences will definitely
enrich my knowledge, ideas and thinking and thus this will
not only strengthen my capability to participate more
actively and effectively in the country’s development
process but also enhance the socioeconomic development of
the country. Bangladesh thus shall certainly be benefited
from the JDS fellowship program.
(Mr. Md. Saidur Rahman is a JDS 2006 fellow and left 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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[4]
Editor's Note
Recent power cuts are so often as to feel like a daily
routine. On the other hand, I happened to know some people
campaigning for “power fast” in the U.S. Literally, they
do not use electricity at all for a certain period of time
now and then; say, for a week. Their purposes include
showing sympathies with those who have no power supply,
raising people’s awareness, and showing examples how to
live without it. I pretend to be joining them whenever
power cuts off.
Saori Nagase
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