"Bangladesh and I"

ESUJ welcomed the Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Ashraf-ud-Doula, as its 14th speaker in the Ambassador's Lecture Series at the Japan National Press Club on November 27.

A former freedom fighter who did military service in the war for independence from Pakistan, which he followed up post-independence with outstanding work in each of the countries where he has served as a diplomat, the ambassador interjected humor into his remarks while speaking passionately about his motherland.

With its four thousand years of Ganges Civilization, Bangladesh occupies the world's largest delta and is the fourth largest producer of rice, with top class agricultural production globally per acre. Due to frequent cyclones and typhoons, and long dry spells in between, there are vast swings between wet and dry weather, which must be compensated for through water control. "Peaceful co-existence" across different cultural spheres is deeply rooted in Bangladesh, whose population is 88% Muslim, due to the country's long shared history with neighboring Myanmar, which is Buddhist, and India, a predominantly Hindu country.This is also helpful for Bangladesh's present development.

In the East-West Pakistan era, civil war was unfortunately unavoidable in the years from the late 1950's to early 1970's. Many lost their lives, but since independence in 1971, the people in the East have united and nation-building has progressed, resulting in a 6+% growth rate in recent years consecutively towards remarkable economic development. Despite passing through a long period of military rule, the current political system of Bangladesh has been described as "an example in which Islam and democracy have gone beyond mutual existence to mutual support of each other" (Bill Richardson). Moreover, the nation is proud of being a "culturally renowned country in the Bengal," as symbolized by Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore, who won Asia's first Nobel Prize for Literature.

The ambassador also emphasized that women's rights had made remarkable progress. Japan extended a helping hand to the country during its difficult times and has given economic aid in the form of important projects, for which the ambassador expressed thanks. The ambassador pointed out that Radhabinod Pal, the sole judge delivering a dissenting opinion to the postwar verdict of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, was a Bengali and emphasized future good relationship between two countries with respect and admiration for Japan as the first Asian nation to defeat a European power (Russia in the Russo-Japanese War) and to become an economic superpower.

The ambassador announced at the end of his lecture that this was his 33rd wedding anniversary and that he and the ambassadress, who was also present, were going for a celebratory dinner afterward. The audience felt very grateful to Ambassador ud-Doula for sparing his time with us on this special occasion.

English Club took place on November 18 (Tues.) at the Marunouchi Café (Shinmarunouchi Bldg., 1st fl.), where it has met since September. Once again there was a full house of 60 people, including members of the general public who had applied via the Café's website.

Our speaker was Ms. Nourilya Moldakhmatova, a native of Kyrgyzstan who studied at the Novosibirsk Academy in Siberia and is presently working for Crown Agents, an old established British organization. Nourilya spoke about her life so far in a talk entitled My "Silk Road" from Kyrgyzstan to Europe. Her country is located in Central Asia and bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. It has an area of about 200,000 square km., 80% of which is mountainous.

She explained her country's relationship with Russia and its present educational and gender issues, and vividly described her own experience of the collapse of the Soviet Union during her student days and the tumultuous era of change that followed. She also spoke about her current ‘multi' international work for Crown Agents, an old established British organization, of spending Japanese aid money to bail out Georgia.

The audience was very impressed by the wealth of experience of this young woman of only 32, as well as her competent delivery in beautiful English and splendid presentation. Thank you, Nourilya-san, for giving us this precious opportunity despite leaving Japan the coming weekend after your three-month stay here.

Next English Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 20 (19:00-20:30) at Marunouchi Café. Guest Speaker will be Mr. Shinichi Sobue, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) "Japan's lunar explorer "KAGUYA": first year observations and early results"

New Year's Lecture: January 28 (Wed.) 19:00-20:30
at Japan Press Club (9th floor)
"Can Japan keep pace with a changing America?"
Lecture by Mr. Sadaaki Numata

((Pre-notice)) Haiku in English by Ms. Emiko Miyashita
Date: Wednesday, 25th February 18:30-20:00
at Japan National Press Club (9th floor )

Wishing You A Happy Holiday Season