DHAKA: Japan has decided to extend a grant aid up to approximately Tk. 15.7 crore (206 million Yen) for the Human Resource Development Scholarship to Bangladesh under Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) programme.                     

A deal was signed on Thursday in this regard by Shiro Sadoshima, ambassador of Japan to Dhaka and Mohammad Mejbahuddin, Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of their respective governments.        

Mikio Hataeda, chief representative of JICA Bangladesh office and Mohammad Mejbahuddin signed in the grand agreement.      

Shiro Sadoshima in his speech said, “Human resource development is the base of socio-economic development. JDS provides opportunities to study in Japan and learn how public administration is managed in Japan. This year is the first year of a new 4-year-phase.”           

Since the beginning of this project in Bangladesh in 2002, Japan has accepted 228 students and 196 of them have returned successfully, achieving master’s degree. 

Compared to Japanese government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship Program, which is open to all Bangladeshi student, JDS project targets Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) cadre officers and Bangladesh Bank Class-1 officers who are expected to play a significant role in their country by offering practical solutions to issues on socio-economic development. 

To provide technical assistance to human resource development, Japan also provides training and dialogue programs through JICA, which offer a wider range of technical support in different sectors such as effective energy usage, bridge engineering, disaster management etc but in shorter period of time. 

Mikio Hataeda added, “To make the most of this JDS project, it is expected for the government of Bangladesh to place the returning JDS fellows in appropriate positions to make use of what they have learnt in Japan.”

BDST: 1930 HRS, MAY 15, 2014