Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh Collected Essays & Speeches of H.E. Mr. Matsushiro Horiguchi Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh May 2006 Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh P r e f a c e I am pleased to deliver to you this booklet: "Making a Bridge between Japan and Bangladesh," the compilation of my essays and major speeches, the interview of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, H.E. Mr. Taro Aso, the Japan-Bangladesh Joint Press Statement and contributions from people who are engaged in Japan-Bangladesh relations. I hope that you find this booklet useful in enhancing your understanding of the strong partnership between Japan and Bangladesh. I have enjoyed the opportunity to visit many places all over Bangladesh and to meet a great number of people in various fields since I came to Bangladesh in May 2003. I have articulated my thoughts and observations gained through these experiences through my speeches on various occasions and essays in our Embassy's biweekly E-Bulletins. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the people who contributed their essays to the E-Bulletin and shared their experiences and ideas on our two countries’ relations in the fields of business, development, culture, etc. Thanks to their contributions, the E-Bulletin has become a very effective tool for us to bring together people who are engaged in nurturing Japan-Bangladesh relations. I will soon leave Bangladesh upon completion of my three-year assignment as the Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh. Even after leaving my position, I intend to continue sending my best wishes to the Bangladeshi people, that they realize a prosperous country as soon as possible. Matsushiro Horiguchi Ambassador of Japan Dhaka, May 2006 I N D E X I. Ambassador's Messages in the E-Bulletin............................................................. 1 1. Portraying the Positive Images of Bangladesh..............................................................................................1 2. Japan Trade Show, JBCCI & Private Sector Development........................................................................... 1 3. On Governance and Corruption.....................................................................................................................1 4. Human Resource Development................................................................................................................... 2 5. Higher Education in Bangladesh................................................................................................................... 2 6. Towards a Permanent Solution to Floods......................................................................................................3 7. Critical Time for National Unity...................................................................................................................... 4 8. Welcoming the Return of the Natives............................................................................................................ 4 9. Using Local Innovations to ward off post-MFA Backlash.............................................................................. 5 10. Listening to the Voices of the Flood-affected People.................................................................................... 6 11. Padma Bridge and Promotion of Democracy.................................................................................................7 12. ICDDR,B and Health Sector Reform..............................................................................................................7 13. Commonwealth War Cemetery in Comilla.....................................................................................................8 14. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.............................................................................................................................9 15. Tourism Promotion in Bangladesh...............................................................................................................10 16. New Developments in Bangladesh...............................................................................................................11 17. Bangladeshi Resilience................................................................................................................................12 18. Visit of Senior Vice-Minister for Agriculture to Bangladesh..........................................................................13 19. Flower Business in Bangladesh...................................................................................................................14 20. Bangladesh and Lebanon............................................................................................................................15 21. Human Rights and Police Reform................................................................................................................16 22. On Hartals-Part 1.........................................................................................................................................17 23. On Hartals-Part 2.........................................................................................................................................18 24. Entrance Ceremony at Japanese School in Dhaka.....................................................................................19 25. Visit to Chittagong Hill Tracts.......................................................................................................................19 26. Visit to Chittagong Hill Tracts (Part 2)..........................................................................................................20 27. The Inauguration of Rupsha Bridge and Development in South Asia......................................................... 21 III. Ambassador's Message on the Emperor's Birthday in 2005............................ 63 28. Rebuttal against Islamic Fundamentalism in Bangladesh........................................................................... 22 29. Promising Bangladeshi Young Entrepreneurs............................................................................................. 23 IV. Interview with Taro Aso, Japanese Foreign Minister by The Daily Star...........65 30. The fruit of Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's visit to Japan.............................................................24 V. JBCCI Reports in the E-Bulletin............................................................................69 31. Thoughts on Honorable Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's visit to Japan..........................................................25 1. "My Business Experience with Japan" 32. Tourism Promotion in Bangladesh...............................................................................................................26 Mr. Matiur Rahman, President, JBCCI.........................................................................................................69 33. Follow-up of the Prime Minister's visit to Japan...........................................................................................27 2. "My Experience of Doing Business with Japan - A Brief Story of My Success - " 34. On the simultaneous bomb blasts on August 17......................................................................................... 27 Mr. Abdul Haque, Vice-President, JBCCI Managing Director, Haq's Bay Automobiles Ltd. .......................69 35. About Tourism Promotion--Trip to Mahasthan............................................................................................. 28 3. "Experience of Doing Business with Japan" 36. Towards the enhancement of South Asian regional cooperation.................................................................29 Mr. AKM Ahmedul Islam, COO, BJIT (Bangladesh Japan Information Technology) Limited...................... 73 37. Revisiting Comilla - Remembrance Service at the Commonwealth 4. "Doing Business with Japan --- A Personal Perspective" Mr. M.A. Momen, Managing Director, Toka Ink Bangladesh Ltd. ............................................................... 74 War Cemetery and Restoration of the Moinamati Buddhist Remains -.......................................................30 5. "Experiences of doing business with Japan" 38. Poverty Reduction Strategy Implementation Forum.....................................................................................32 Mr. Syed Razzaque Ali, Managing Director, Gulf Environmental Technologies Ltd (GET)..........................76 39. Thoughts on Suicide Bombings................................................................................................................... 33 6. "On the Occasion of my Receipt of 'The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays'" 40. Bangladesh and Myanmar........................................................................................................................... 33 Dr. AKM Moazzem Hussain, Advisor, Bangladesh AOTS Alumni Society...................................................77 41. New Year's Greeting.................................................................................................................................... 34 7. "Problems & Possible Solutions of Bangladesh-Japan Trade Growth" 42. Nomination by UNESCO of BAUL music as a masterpiece of the Mr. Animesh Kundu, Director, OTOBI Ltd. ..................................................................................................78 Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.....................................................................................................35