PAST HIGHLIGHTS OF JUAAB

 First annual general meeting of the JUAAB held

The First Annual General Meeting of JUAAB was held at Hotel Purbani International, Dhaka, on April 5, 2002. The meeting was presided over by Prof M. Aminul Islam, Acting President of JUAAB and attended by 72 members/associate members of JUAAB. After a brief welcome speech by the Chair. Dr. K. M. Moniruzzaman, General Secretary of JUAAB presented the Annual Report of JUAAB. Dr. Maniruzzaman explained the reasons behind the delay in holding the first AGM. His report was followed by the presentation to the Financial Report by the Treasurer, Dr. Sarder A. Nayeem.

The floor was then opened to the audience for discussion on the reports presented and matters related to the agenda. Among the discussants, Dr. Sarder A. Nayeem proposed the formation of several sub-committees for more active participation of the members. Prof. Nurul Huda Khan advised to server at least three weeks' notice for any JUAAB activity. Dr. Abdul Mannan Akand proposed the appointment of institution-based representatives. Dr. Mofazzal Hossain proposed the organization of Japanese language education and social activities such as eye camps. He also urged for permanent office setup. Dr. Moazzem Hossain proposed one sub-committee for Asset Management to take the initiative to setup a permanent office.

Dr. Khurshid Alam Bhuiyan proposed the publication of journal. He also urged to align the JUAAB Executive Committee terms with calendar years. Dr. Afzal Hossain Bachchu volunteered to sit on the Newsletter Subcommittee. Mr. Momtaz Bhuiyan proposed the compilation of directories of JUAAB dentists and doctors. Dr. Md. Alamgir proposed the organization of receptions to returning graduates from Japanese universities ever year. He also proposed to reduce the fee for live membership. Dr. Ashrafuddin Mallick proposed the appointment of permanent staff for JUAAB. Prof. Khalilur Rahman expressed his satisfaction with that, due to shortage of time, the discussion on constitutional amendment be held in a different meeting.

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The AGM unanimously approved The Annual Report and the Financial Report and decided to discuss the amendment of the Constitution in a separate General Meeting. Also decided was to form several sub-committees with interested member to run the association. The most significant decision was to make necessary amendments in the Constitution to extend the term of the present executive committee till December 2002, in order to align the term of JUAAB with the calendar year.

Life members of JUAAB were presented crests of JUAAB at the AGM.

More images of JUAAB first AGM. Click here !! >>

JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Japan, JUAAB and the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh jointly organized 'JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL' from 12 to 18 October, 2002, at the Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka.

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NHK AT JUAAB OFFICE

Japan's most popular television channel NHK is now available at JUAAB office. Members and visitors can enjoy the channel at any time during the office hours on weekdays.

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ORIENTATION SEMINAR FOR 2002 SCHOLARS

An Orientation Seminar was organized by JUAAB for some 140 recipients of the Monbukagakusho scholarship for higher studies in Japan from the October session, 2002. The seminar was sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh and was held at the BIAM Multipurpose Hall, Dhaka, on August 2, 2002 from 9:00 am.

The seminar was presided over by the Acting President of JUAAB, Prof. M. Aminul Islam and was addressed by Dr. Sarder A. Nayeem, Treasurer, Dr. K. M. Maniruzzaman, General Secretary and Prof. Mozammel Hoq, Vice-President, from the JUAAB side; and Mr. Y. Tanaka, Director, Press and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Mushtaque Ahmed, Information & Cultural Specialist, and Dr. Hasina Ferdousi Advisor from the Embassy side.

Prof. Islam in his welcome address congratulated the assembled scholars for being-awarded the prestigious scholarship and explained to them the aim of the seminar Dr. Nayeem emphasized the need for discipline and humility to cope with the academic environment in a Japanese university. Dr. Maniruzzaman spoke about the value of sincerity and dedication to their studies. Prof. Hoq dwelt at length on various aspects of education in Japan.

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Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Y. Tanaka from the Embassy stressed on the importance of language education for effective communication with Japanese professors and colleagues. Mr. Mushtaque Ahmed explained the procedure for applying for Japanese visa and Dr. Ferdousi explained the Japanese education system.

In the question-and-answer round, the speakers responded to questions and queries from the audience. Finally, the program ended with a sumptuous lunch. A total of 108 scholarship recipients attended the program.

JUAAB FEATURED IN MOFA WEBSITE

JUAAB has been featured in the Web-based "Study in Japan: Comprehensive Guide", created and operated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Japan. The site has a list of different Japan-related alumni associations in Asia. Detailed information on different associations is featured in turns, and the currently featured association is our very own JUAAB. The site is maintained by ASJA (Asia Japan Alumni) International, Tokyo.

The website provided information regarding our aims, objectives, activities, organizational setup, mailing address etc. A number of photographs depicting our activities are also displayed. The URL for the webpage is http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/ath/ath03e.html
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INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

An International Seminar on Japanese Language and Culture was arranged in a local hotel on March 24, 2001 from 10:00 a. m to 2:00 p. m. Professor A. K. Azad Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, was the Chief Guest. Prof. Shunsuke Okunishi, Director, Japanese Language Centre for Foreigners, Osaka Foreign Languages University participated in this seminar. He talked on the Kanji System and its Cultural Background. The local speakers were Mr. Md. Monir Uddin, a Lecturer of Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka and Mrs. Maleka Khan.

They spoke on the Language and history of Ikebana in Bangladesh. Professor A. K. Azad Chowdhury thanked JUAAB for arranging the seminar. He spoke highly about the different cultural aspects of Japanese life. About one hundred guests including JUAAB members participated in the seminar. The seminar was followed by lunch.

The seminar was chaired by the President of JUAAB, Prof. Ishtiaq Mahmud.

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ORIENTATION SEMINAR, 2001, ASIAN YOUTH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

The seminar was arranged as Ms. Nakano the coordinator of the program came to Dhaka. The seminar was attended by the students studying in the University of Dhaka, BUET, Dhaka Medical College, BIRDEM and doctors from the Medical University. Asian Youth Fellowship Program is a rather new program. Two faculty members of Dhaka University including Dr. Tushar Kanti Das of the Law Department were the recipient of this fellowship. The seminar started at 9:30 a. m. on April 20, 2001, in the BIRDEM Auditorium. President of JUAAB, Prof. Ishtiaq Mahmud talked about JUAAB. From the Japanese Embassy Mr. Y. Tanaka the Director of Press and Cultural Affairs and Ms. Eri Maeda, Third Secretary and Deputy Director Press and Cultural Affairs of Japanese Embassy participated. The meeting was conducted by JUAAB Treasurer, Dr. Sardar A. Nayeem and vote of thanks were given by Professor Mozammel Hoq, Vice-President of JUAAB.

Ms. Nakano in her speech discussed the different aspects and purpose of this fellowship program. Learning Japanese language is an important component of this fellowship program. It is done in Kuala Lampur.

Dr. Tushar Kanti Das mentioned about his personal experience and the kind hospitality he had received during his stay in Japan under this fellowship program. The meeting ended at 10:45 a. m. There was light refreshment at the end of the seminar.

Dr. Tushar Kanti Das mentioned about his personal experience and the kind hospitality he had received during his stay in Japan under this fellowship program. The meeting ended at 10:45 a. m. There was light refreshment at the end of the seminar.

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JUAAB SEMINAR ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

A seminar organized by JUAAB on the Development of Information Technology (IT) in Bangladesh was held at the BETS Centre Auditorium, Dhanmondi, on June 2, 2001. The seminar was structured with three presentations relevant to the theme. Dr. Chowdhury Mofizur Rahman, Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, BUET spoke on the state of IT education and training in Bangladesh. Dr. Nazrul Islam, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, BUET, deliberated on the communications infrastructure in Bangladesh. Dr. Nazrul Islam, Assistant Professor, Department of EEE, BUET deliberated on the communications infrastructure in Bangladesh for IT development. Mr. Tomohide Uchida, Economic Adviser of the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, spoke on the experience of India in IT development with special reference to its impact on economic development.

The seminar was chaired by the President of JUAAB, Prof. Ishtiaq Mahmud, and was conducted by its General Secretary, Dr. K. M. Maniruzzaman. Around 70 JUAAB members and guests attended the seminar and took part in the discussions after the presentations.

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Dr. Mofizur Rahman explained the courses on computer taught at different levels of the education system in the country. He noted that computer education at the school level was still inadequate. At the university level, most of the private universities are under staffed and have to rely largely on part time teachers which is not conducive for proper education. With respect to the training institutes , he opined that they charge exorbitant fees but do not have good quality trainers. Many of these institutes are franchisees of foreign companies and therefore drain money out of the country. Citing personal experience he expressed his doubt about the quality of the foreign faculty in the foreign training institutes.

Dr. Nazrul Islam outlined the basic concepts of communication systems and their characteristics. He then went on to describe the current status of communications in Bangladesh. He pointed out that the teledensity in Bangladesh, 0.34% for fixed line phones and 0.12% for mobile phones, is the second lowest among 40 countries in the Asia Pacific region. Dr. Islam outlined the recent plans for improving the communications network, including international connectivity. He ended his discussion with a note of optimism that Bangladesh will one day become a proud member of the global village.

Mr. Tomohide Uchida outlined the stages of development of Asian countries and suggested, with reference to India, that IT development can offer the chance to progress bypassing some of the intermediate stages. He attributed the success of India's IT development to factors such as better cost-performance and superior IT education.

However, he observed that while IT development can increase national wealth, it tends to have a negative impact on poverty alleviation. He suggested that the short term strategies for Bangladesh for IT enabled services like call centers, back office operations and medical transcription services.

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JUAAB SEMINAR ON EARTHQUAKE HAZARD

A seminar on "Earthquake Hazard in Bangladesh" was held under the auspices of JUAAB on April 28, 2001, at the BETS Centre Auditorium, Dhanmondi. Dr. Ali Akber Mollick, an international consulting structural engineer, and Dr. Mehedi Ahmed Ansary, a geotechnical engineering and Associate Prof. of the Civil Engineering, BUET, were the keynote speakers in the seminar. Both speakers are leading experts in Bangladesh on earthquake related issues in their respective fields and founder members of JUAAB. JUAAB President Prof. Ishtiaq Mahmud chaired the seminar which was conducted by Prof. Mazammel Hoq, Convenor of the Seminar Subcommittee of JUAAB.

The seminar was attended by a good number of JUAAB members and guests, including Mr. Y. Tanaka, Director, Press and Cultural Affairs of the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh. The Embassy generously lent a video on earthquake disasters which was screened at the seminar.

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Dr. Ansari, who visited the earthquake stricken areas of Gujrat as a member of a panel of international experts, opined that an unimaginable level of catastrophe would occur if a tremor of similar magnitude hits Dhaka. He cited a UN study that places Dhaka and Tehran jointly at the top of a list of 20 vulnerable cities where the effect of an earthquake would be most severe.

Dr. Ansari lamented the inadequate seismic data collection in the country due to lac of proper equipments. He recommended the setting up of tremor measuring equipment on both sides of the Bangabandhu Bridge. He stressed the need for monitoring seismic activity.
Dr. Mollick in his presentation noted that seven major earthquakes had affected Bangladesh in the last 150 years. Two of those had their epicenters inside the territory of Bangladesh. He mentioned the fact that the Bangladesh National Building Code divides the country into three seismic zones. He opined that masonry buildings are not fit to resist the horizontal force induced by earthquakes.

Even the reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures in the country are erected in a manner that reduces their effective earthquake resistance. For example, ground floors are often weak. They should have walls and/or bracings with exterior columns. Hollow bricks/blocks should be used instead of traditional bricks and the buildings should follow a weak-beam-strong-column system.

Dr. Mollick also provided tips on the precautions that should be taken in our daily lives to minimize loss in the event of an earthquake.

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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