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Japan-Bangladesh E-Bulletin (75th Issue / Dec 6, 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 Event on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
*
Japanese Ambassador Visits Bangla-German Training Centre
with the Secretary (Nov 17)
*
Japanese Provides Emergency Relief Goods for the Cyclone
‘SIDR’
(Nov 19)
* Japanese Emperor and Prime Minister shocked at cyclone
‘SIDR’ damages (Nov 21)
* Japan’s Additional Emergency Grant Aid of US $ 3.67
million
for Cyclone “SIDR” victims (Nov 22)
* Donations of Japanese School for the SIDR affected
people (Nov 28)
* Japan’s additional support to the cyclone “SIDR”
victims(Nov 28)
* Japanese Cultural Events (Nov 29th-Dec 1st, Dhaka)
[2] Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS)
Fellow
(Md. Rakibul Hasan Khan (Kobe University)
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[1] Recent Events on Japan-Bangladesh Relations
*
Japanese Ambassador Visits Bangla-German Training Centre
with the Secretary(Nov 17)
H.E. Mr. Masayuki INOUE, Ambassador of Japan in
Bangladesh, Ms. Nobuko Suzuki KAYASHIMA, Resident
Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),
Mr. Abdul Matin Chowdhury, Secretary Ministry of
Expatriates, Welfare & Overseas Employment and Mr.
Ashfaque Hamid, Secretary, Ministry of Labor & Manpower
visited Bangla-German Technical Training Centre (BGTTC) in
Mirpur, under the Bureau of Manpower, Employment &
Training (BMET), Ministry of Labor & Manpower on November
17, 2007 at 9:00 AM.
During their visit, they observed the activities of JOCVs
(Japanese Oversea Cooperation Volunteers) working on
different trades of Bangla-German Technical Training
Centre.
At present, four JOCVs – Mr. Masaaki AKIMOTO (Electric
Instrument), Mr. Minoru HASEGAWA (Automobile Maintenance),
Mr. Seiichi SAKAMAKI (Refrigeration & Air-conditioning)
and Mr. Ryota SAITO (Machine Tools) – are working with the
BGTTC.
JOCV members have been providing their expertise for the
last 28 years. A total of 140 JOCV members has been
dispatched to BGTTC for the betterment of skill training
program of the centre. They transferred their advanced
knowledge and skill to instructors as well as students
through Bengali language. They also worked hard for
revising and updating the curriculum of BGTTC to meet job
market needs.
The JOCV program began in 1973. Nearly one thousand JOCVs
have been dispatched so far to different fields.
* Japanese Provides Emergency Relief Goods for the Cyclone
‘SIDR’
(Nov 19)
1.
The Government of Japan decided on 19 November (Monday) to
provide, through the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA), such emergency relief goods as listed
below equivalent to about 35 million Japanese yen
(approximately US $ 390,000) in total to the Government of
Bangladesh, which has sustained serious damage from
Cyclone “SIDR”. The first cargo of these emergency relief
goods arrived at Dhaka International Airport in the
morning on Tuesday 20 November.
- Tent : 100
- Blanket (regular) :1000
- Blanket (heavy) : 100
- Sleeping Pad : 300
- Plastic Sheet : 200
- Water Purifier : 30
- Water Tank : 10
- Portable Jerry Can : 300
- Generator : 30
2.
The Government of Japan has decided to extend this aid
from a humanitarian point of view, considering the
friendly relationship between the two countries, taking
account of the scale of the disaster.
3.
The hand over ceremony of the relief goods was held at
noon on Tuesday 20 November at the Dhaka International
Airport. His Excellency Mr. Masayuki Inoue, Ambassador of
Japan and high officials of Ministry of Food and Disaster
Management attended the ceremony.
* Japanese Emperor and Prime Minister shocked at cyclone
‘SIDR’ damages (Nov 21)
His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Akihito, and His
Excellency Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda expressed heartfelt
condolences on the tragic losses of lives and serious
damage caused by the disastrous cyclone “Sidr” in
Bangladesh.
* Japan’s Additional Emergency Grant Aid of US $ 3.67
million
for Cyclone “SIDR” victims (Nov 22)
The government of Japan decided its emergency grant aid of
US$ 3,670,646 to Bangladesh on Thursday 22 November. The
new grant aid will be implemented by World Food Programme
(WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World
Health Organization (WHO) to support the victims of
cyclone “Sidr”. The decision was made considering the
great damage caused by the disaster and the friendly
relationship between Japan and Bangladesh.
The allocation of the grant aid is as follows;
WFP ( US$ 1,494,266 )
Commodity/Biscuit (1,323 mt)
UNICEF ( US$ 1,091,400 )
(1) Sanitation products (latrine slabs and rings) (50,000
sets)
(2) Plastic sheets (40,000 pieces)
(3) Blankets (40,000 pieces)
(4) Clothes for children
WHO ( US$ 1,084,980 )
(1) Medicine
(2) Activity costs of 9 WHO Medical Doctors
* Donations of Japanese School for the SIDR affected
people (Nov 28)
On November 28, 2007 two students of Japanese School in
Dhaka, Ms Ayako Ito and Mr. Yu Kato, accompanied by Mr.
Osamu Nomura, Principal of the school and Mr. Tomoyuki
Fukuiwa, Teacher of the school met the Chief Advisor of
the Care Taker Government Dr. Fakruddin Ahmed and
expressed their profound shock and condolences to the SIDR
affected people in the Southern districts. They also
handed over their donation for the victims.
The amount of donation was collected from the recycling
activities of the Japanese School in Dhaka. The school
teachers and students thought it is wise to provide the
amount to the Chief Advisor's Relief Fund in its efforts
of helping the suffering of humanity of Bangladesh.
The team availed the opportunity of handing over the
donation at the time of the scheduled appointment of Mr.
Koji Nojima, Chairman, Japan - Bangladesh Joint Committee
for Commercial & Economic Cooperation and Ambassador of
Japan to Bangladesh His Excellency Mr. Masayuki Inoue with
the Honorable Chief Advisor.
* Japan’s additional support to the cyclone “SIDR”
victims(Nov 28)
In order to meet the urgent needs raised by the cyclone “Sidr”,
the government of Japan decided that the cyclone victims
can receive the rice stock of 750 MT (worth
US$ 480,000)
in
Chittagong port, which Japan had
provided Bangladesh through
United Nations World Food Programme
(WFP)
as a routine assistance.
The Japanese government approved the request from WFP on
this borrowing on Thursday 28 November.
The embassy of Japan hopes that the rice stock will be
timely distributed to the
cyclone
affected
through WFP.
The government of Japan had already provided emergency
relief goods (worth US$ 390,000) and emergency grant aid
through WFP, UNICEF and WHO (worth US$ 3.7 million) for
the cyclone “Sidr” affected people.
* Japanese Cultural Events (Nov 29th-Dec 1st)
The Embassy of Japan organized "Japanese Cultural Events"
from 29th of November alongside the Japan Trade
Fair 2007 at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre
and the Shilpakala Academy.
On 29th, a drama titled "One Hundred Sacks of Rice" was
staged at 6:30pm at the National Theatre Hall of
Shilpakala Academy. Furthermore, photo exhibition, karate
demonstration, Japanese dance performance, kendo and
ikebna demonstrations, Haiku-evening was organized on
December 1st at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference
Centre. The "Study in Japan" consulting also took place
everyday from 1pm to 5pm at the Embassy booth in the
centre.
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[2] Relay Essay by Japan Development Scholarship (JDS)
Fellow
(Md. Rakibul Hasan Khan (Kobe University)
First, I would like to thank the respective authority of
JICE, ERD, Ministry of Finance and GoB for selecting me as
a ‘JDS Fellow’ for the session of 2007-08. I have
graduated from ‘Jahangirnagar University’ major in
‘Government and Politics’ (Political Science). Currently I
am working as a lecturer in the department of ‘Political
Science’, at ‘Shibpur Shaheed Asad Government College’. I
have also worked in ‘Citizens for Good Governance’
programme of a well-reputed non-government organisation
named ‘The Hunger Project Bangladesh’. Through my
educational and professional background, I have achieved a
strong thirst for the development of my country. I believe
as a teacher I have many things to offer in this regard.
Bangladesh
is in a vicious circle of problems. One of them is
Governance crisis, which truly has become a burning issue
for Bangladesh. Problems like corruption, poverty, over
population, illiteracy are the by-products of this crisis.
Our governance system is not transparent, accountable and
accessible to the people. As a result, these crises are
increasing day by day. It is assumed that local government
can make the governance transparent and accountable which
in turn can make the development of the country possible.
But the local government in our country is not active and
effective enough to face the challenges. So this is a
prior necessity to Bangladesh to improve the local
government system. Considering this, I have chosen ‘Public
Administration’ as my field of study and “Role of Local
Government on Good Governance in Japan and Lesson for
Bangladesh” as my research area. Japan has a profound
experience of an efficient local government system, which
has ensured good governance in the country. My study will
focus on ascertaining local government system, its role to
governance in Japan along with finding out the lessons for
Bangladesh, which will consequently establish effective
local government to ensure good governance in my country.
Following a country’s system identically may not bring
promising result to another country but lessons can be
learnt and implemented effectively to reform the system of
that particular country.
I strongly believe, education is the strongest instrument
for the development and positive change of a society. My
profession gives me ample opportunity to influence the
social and democratic values of the young learners who are
the future leaders of Bangladesh. They will lead the
country in various fields like - administration, economy,
judiciary, etc in the near future. Overall development of
the country is heavily depended on their approach,
attitude and the learning or education they receive from
us. If they play their role according to their
responsibility, I do not find any reason why my country
cannot reach the harbour of development and prosperity.
And if I can teach my students with my knowledge, skills
and experience from Japan, they will be well prepared to
perform their job in this regard which should contribute
to the national development significantly.
Moreover, as I am working in the field of education, I
have great opportunity to conduct further research on this
issue. My research work would facilitate the policy makers
to understand the problems and solutions regarding
governance, which should contribute to developing an
effective governance system.
To create awareness or consciousness among citizens, my
plan is to organise volunteer young leaders’ team from the
students who will work to help the local government to
implement its development programmes by forming social
capital. Surely, it will pace up the development process
from the grass root level.
As a government officer, I have access to government’s
policymaking process where I will be able to use my
expertise from Japan in the formation of policy related to
governance.
To reform a country, good governance is a must along with
other things. I believe with conviction that the
knowledge, learning and skills from Kobe University of
Japan will enable me to contribute adequately in
constructing a better governance system in Bangladesh.
(Japan Development Scholarship (JDS))
http://www.jice.org/english/jds/bangladesh_org.html
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