The Cultural and Educational Section of the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh took the initiative in forming an Association of Bangladeshi Nationals who had earned academic degrees from Japanese universities. A section of such individuals gathered at the beginning of March in a Korean restaurant in Gulshan to discuss the issue. The participants at the meeting agreed that such an Association should be formed to further strengthen the cultural and academic relations between Bangladesh and Japan. They volunteered to work as an adhoc committee for a proposed Japanese Universities Alumni Association in Bangladesh (JUAAB). Prof. Alauddin Ahmed, MP, and a former Monbusho Scholar was made convener, to draft a Constitution for the Association and to initiative the process of forming its first executive committee according to that Constitution. The intention to create the Association and its adhoc committee was publicly announced at the dinner hosted by the Embassy for Monbusho scholars at the 'Sajna restaurant', Gulshan on 28th March 2000. The idea of JUAAB and the adhoc committee along with its term of reference was endorsed with the wholehearted support of the assembled scholars. A timeframe of six months was stipulated for the adhoc committee to complete its assigned tasks.

The adhoc committee later entrusted Prof. Ishtiaq Mahmud to act its Member Secretary. The adhoc committee met eight times to draft the Constitution, befitting the Association through detailed discussions and careful scrutiny of the ideas and opinions received from the would be members of the Association. By 20th July 2000 a draft Constitution was ready which was subsequently circulated among would-be members for their comments and suggestions. The Constitution was finalized and adopted unanimously in the presence of Mr. Yasuhiko Tanaka, Director, Press and Cultural Section of the Embassy of Japan. A Council of Advises and an Election Commission were formed as per the Constitution on 28th August, 2000, at the 9th meeting of the adhoc committee. The committee also decided on 29th September 2000 as the date for the first Annual General Meeting/Election of the Association and for handing over the responsibilities of the Association to its first Executive Committee.

Members of the adhoc committee were as follows:

1. Professor Alauddin Ahmed
Member of Parliament

2. Mr. Sheikh Ahmed Jalal
Former Diplomat

3. Dr. A. K. M. Moazzem Hussain
Representative
AOTS Dhaka Office

4.Professor Mahmudul Haque
Director
Institute of Fine Arts
University of Dhaka

5.Mr. Momtazuddin Bhuiyan
Chairman & MD
Imam Fishing Ltd.

6.Professor Ishtiaq Mahmud
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Dhaka

7.Dr. Motiur Rahman Molla
Associate Professor
Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital

8.Dr. M. A. Matin
Associate Professor
Dhaka Medical College

9.Dr. K. M. Maniruzzaman
Assistant Professor
Department of URP
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology

JUAAB Office Address:

Japanese Universities Alumni Association in Bangladesh (JUAAB)
Rowshan Tower (6th Floor), 152/2/A2 Green Road,
Panthapath, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh
Tel: +880-2-9142792