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Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (69th Issue / Jun 14, 2007)
- Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh -
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This E-Bulletin is to share updated information and
stories about Japan-Bangladesh relations with as many
people as possible. If your friends are interested in
subscription, please email us at mail@embjp.accesstel.net
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[1] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Send-off Ceremony for Japan Development Scholarship
Fellows (Jun 14, Dhaka)
* Japan’s Assistance for Human Resource Development (Jun
12, Dhaka)
* Japan’s Assistance for Storm Water Drainage System (Jun
12, Dhaka)
* Japan’s Assistance for Meteorological Radar System (Jun
12, Dhaka)
* Japan’s Assistance for Primary Education (Jun 9,
Mymensingh)
* Ambassador Inoue’s Speech on Japan’s Peacebuilding
Efforts (Jun 8, Dhaka)
* Ambassador Inoue’s Visit to Khulna (Jun 5-6)
[2] Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS)
Fellow
(Mr. Asif Ahmed, Roads and Highways Department)
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[1] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
* Send-off Ceremony for Japan Development Scholarship
Fellows (Jun 14, Dhaka)
On June 14, Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. Masayuki Inoue,
hosted a send-off party for 20 participants of Japan
Development Scholarship (JDS) 2007. Returnees from past
JDS and officials from relevant ministries also joined the
party.
This year, 20 Bangladeshi young civil officers were
selected out of 197 candidates for JDS. The fellows have
completed two-month Japanese language training programme.
They will leave for Japan at the beginning of July to
study for two years at Master's courses in six fields:
Public Administration, Economics, international relation
and Environmental Policy.
JDS was established by the Government of the People's
Republic of Bangladesh with the assistance of the
Government of Japan starting from the year 2001. JDS will
contribute to enhance the knowledge and skills of young
Bangladeshi people so that they can play leading roles in
the development of Bangladesh after completion of their
studies. In the last 5 years, a total of 107 JDS fellows
were sent to Japan, and 73 fellows have already come back
to Bangladesh with their accomplishments and ambitions to
contribution to the country. These new 20 fellows are
also expected to contribute to the development of this
county in their field after their return.
* Japan’s Assistance for Human Resource Development (Jun
12, Dhaka)
On June 12, the Governments of Japan and Bangladesh signed
an agreement on Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource
Development Scholarship (JDS) programme for the next year
amounting to 294 million Yen (approximately Taka 17 crore).
Under this agreement, Bangladesh will start selecting
candidates for 7th JDS this August. A total number of 20
persons will be selected for studying in Japan for two
years from July 2008.
* Japan’s Assistance for Storm Water Drainage System (Jun
12, Dhaka)
On June 12, the Governments of Japan and Bangladesh signed
an agreement on Japanese Grant Aid for the Improvement of
the Storm Water Drainage System in Dhaka City (Phase-II)
amounting to 919 million Yen (approximately Taka 54 crore).
The urban drainage is one of the most important and urgent
issues. This grant will be aiming at improving and
reinforcing the existing infrastructure of drainage
facilities as well as urban health, safety and hygienic
conditions in the high priority drainage areas of
different drainage zones of Dhaka City. Japan has been
assisting projects to improve the storm water drainage
system in Dhaka City since 1991. Three pumps with 10 cubic
meters capacity and the other relevant equipments were
installed.
The grant will reinforce the pumping capacity of the
Kallyanpur Pumping Station and the sludge removal capacity
through open channels and drainage pipes, and the
procurement of various equipments. The basic design study
of this project was already formulated by the Government
of Bangladesh with Japan’s financial assistance.
* Japan’s Assistance for Meteorological Radar System (Jun
12, Dhaka)
On June 12, the Governments of Japan and Bangladesh signed
an agreement on Japanese Grant Aid for Establishment of
the Meteorological Radar System at Moulvibazar amounting
to 1,000 million Yen (approximately Taka 59 crore).
The new Doppler radar station in Moulvibazar will be most
effective for timely forecasting and warning to minimize
damages of human lives and properties in Sylhet, the upper
river basin of Meghna and Meghalaya Hills. Japan, upon
request of Bangladesh, had earlier completed the Basic
Design Study for the Establishment of Meteorological Radar
System at Moulvibazar.
Japan has been assisting Bangladesh in constructing
meteorological radar systems in order to ensure the
country’s sustainable development. There are
meteorological radar systems at Rangpur, which was built
in 1999, and at Cox’s Bazar, which was inaugurated last
April. A project to improve such system in Khepupara is
ongoing.
* Japan’s Assistance for Primary Education (Jun 9,
Mymensingh)
Ambassador Inoue attended the launching ceremony on
Teaching Package (Science and Mathematics) for Development
and Training under Strengthening Primary Teachers Training
on Science and Mathematics of Primary Education
Development Program 2 (PEDP 2) on June 9 at National
Academy on Primary Education (NAPE) in Mymensingh.
Japan stands side by side with Bangladesh to improve the
education through extending a wide range of support.
Japan’s cooperation includes dispatching Japanese Overseas
Cooperation Volunteers and experts and providing grass
root assistance for construction of school buildings.
Under the Program for Science and Mathematics in Primary
Education, Japan and Bangladesh jointly created teaching
package for science and mathematics, which will be
utilized in Primary Teacher Training Institute (PTI)
level.
* Ambassador Inoue’s Speech on Japan’s Peacebuilding
Efforts (Jun 8, Dhaka)
Ambassador Inoue made a speech entitled “Japan’s Approach
to Peacebuilding: Multifaceted Contribution for
Sustainable Peace” at the Department of Peace and Conflict
Studies Foundation Day Lecture at Dhaka University on June
8.
Full text of his speech is available at the following
website:
http://www.bd.emp-japan.go.jp/
For more information about Japan’s peacefuilding efforts,
please visit the following website:
(Arms Control)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/disarmament/index.html
(Conflict Prevention)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/conflict/index.html
(Human Security)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/human_secu/index.html
(Official Development Assistance)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/index.html
(PKO and other International Peace Cooperation)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/pko/index.html
(Japan’s Support to SAARC)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/saarc/support0704.pdf
* Ambassador Inoue’s Visit to Khulna (Jun 5-6)
Ambassador Inoue visited Khulna from June 5 to 6. He
attended the Knowledge Management for Development Workshop
and made a speech on the importance of education for human
resource development.
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[2] Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS)
Fellow
(Mr. Asif Ahmed, Roads and Highways Department)
I would like to pay my sincere gratitude and heartfelt
thanks to the authority concerned especially JICE, ERD,
MoF, MoE, MoC and GoB for selecting me as a ‘JDS Fellow’
for 2007-2008. I graduated in Civil Engineering from
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET),
Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1999. Just after passing from my
university I started my career as assistant programmer in
a software development company. After that I moved to the
Institute of Water Modeling (IWM) where I used to work
with numerical modeling of hydraulics and water related
environment. After that I joined to the Bangladesh Civil
Service in Public Works Department and finally changed the
cadre and currently I am working with the Roads and
Highways Department under Ministry of Communication since
December 10, 2003. My present job responsibility includes
supervise and monitor of all bridge maintenance,
rehabilitation and construction works assigned to my
division and ensure that all bridge works are executed
properly in respect of specification, quantity, quality
and financial.
There is no denying the fact that environmental issues are
getting more attention nowadays in developing countries
and environmental friendly development certainly plays an
important role in proper economic growth, improving social
welfare and better way of living. Public officials engaged
in infrastructure development policies, therefore, must
advance their knowledge of and experience in areas like
management, technology, macroeconomics and environment in
order to make decisions consistent with the welfare of the
people of the country. Graduate School for International
Development and Cooperation at Hiroshima University
focuses on such areas as economics, management, ecology,
environmental science, specialized engineering and law
related to the development and management of sustainable
infrastructure to equip the participants of the program
with the leadership tools to facilitate environmental
concern of a country. In addition, the program provides a
platform for engineers and policy planners, especially
public officials of developing countries, to learn and
share their experiences, giving an opportunity to learn
from different approaches to a common problem.
The National Land Transport Policy (NLTP) of the
Government of Bangladesh (GoB) emphasizes on development
of environmentally friendly transport infrastructure and
proper environmental protection and management of road
sector. It is, therefore, the policy of the GoB that
environmental considerations are given higher priority in
the planning, design and implementation of all road and
bridge projects. The Roads and Highways Department (RHD),
as the key organization in development of national road
networks, will have significant role to play in
implementing this policy and setting and ensuring high
environmental standards in the national and the regional
road sector. RHD management must align to the policy
provisions of NLTP and Environmental Conservation Act (ECA),
1997. All these issues inspired to conduct my research
work on Transportation Planning and Modeling for Urban &
Regional Areas to Reduce Environmental Impacts under the
umbrella of Environmental Policy at Hiroshima University.
My research findings will contribute in the development
process of Bangladesh in the following areas:
1. Environmental benefit of introducing rapid or mass
transport system;
2. Modal sharing of surface transport system to reduce
transport induced pollution;
3. Formulating appropriate approaches consistent with NLTP
& ECA reducing adverse environmental impacts especially in
the transport sector;
4. Fostering the necessity of Environmental Impact
Assessment, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental
Auditing, and Mitigation Measures in the transport sector,
etc.
With the adequate knowledge in the Environmental Policy
regarding transportation planning field expected to be
obtained in my graduate study at Hiroshima University, I
hope I shall be able to contribute in solving the
prevailing environmental problems relating to
transportation in my country. And in this way I can render
better services to my country.
(Japan Development Scholarship (JDS))
http://www.jice.org/english/jds/bangladesh_org.html
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