March 22, 2009

Bangladesh-JSPS Alumni launched

               A new alumni Association for fellows and researchers who visited Japan through exchange programme of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) was launched on 21 March 2009.  The first Annual General Meeting of Bangladesh-JSPS Alumni Association was held at Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka yesterday, in presence of Professor Dr. Alauddin Ahmed,  Adviser to the Prime Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as the Chief Guest.  Professor A. A. M. S. Arefin Siddique, Vice-Chancellor, University of Dhaka and H. E. Mr. Masayuki Inoue, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh was present as the special guests.

               Mr. Naoki Murata, Executive Director of JSPS inaugurated the ceremony mentioning the role of JSPS to promote Science through several programme and expecting to increase the number of scientist wishing to visit Japan.  Ambassador Inoue welcomed the launching of the alumni and hoped that the alumni would bring new era to make an excellent collaboration among scientists in Bangladesh.  Vice-Chancellor Prof. Siddique also welcomed and emphasized the importance of Science in Bangladesh and the world. Prof Dr. Alauddin Ahmed told that he was the first JSPS fellow in 1979 and the first Monbusho Scholarship winner, as well as one of founders of Japan Universities Alumni Association in Bangladesh (JUAAB), and he mentioned his interest and gratitude to launch the JSPS alumni in Bangladesh.  The Vice-President I Prof. Dr. Imamul Huq took his role to chair the sessions, and the Vice-President II Prof. Dr. Md. Abul Hashem read the message of the President of Bangladesh-JSPS Alumni Association, Prof. Naiyyum Choudhury.  Prof. Naoshige Kawai, Professor of Faculty of Agricultural Science, Iwate University, Japan and Dr. Khabir Uddin, Professor of Environmental Science, Jahangirnagar University presented key note speeches in the scientific session.