Japan has once again expressed its willingness to extend its friendly arms for improvement of traffic in Dhaka city. Apparently against the backdrop of the unabatedly deteriorating urban traffic movement scenario, the East Asian economic giant has offered to bail Bangladesh out. Quoting a Japanese urban development expert, a recent FE report says improvement in a city's gridlock situation, management of its population and an increasing number of transports play a significant role in the development of an ideal city. The city development expert Daisuke Sinatani observed that South Asian countries like Bangladesh might seek assistance from Japan for urban development and planning. These moves aimed at urban development would be orchestrated by that country's ODA (Official Development Assistance) Programme. That Bangladesh is a highly deserving candidate for this assistance needs no elaboration. The Japanese expert, now with the infrastructure development giant Mitsui & Company, was talking with selected journalists from the South Asian countries on a virtual platform.
Partnership in socio-economic progress between Bangladesh and Japan has continued to be strengthened since the emergence of the nation as an independent state. Japan was one of the earliest countries to officially recognise Bangladesh --- on February 10, 1972. Historically, Japan has been the biggest bilateral development partner of Bangladesh. The friendly ties began in the war-torn Bangladesh in the early 1970s, with Japan extending all-out cooperation in the rebuilding of the then poverty-stricken country. Had there been no generous flows of food, medicine and emergency relief goods from the Asian countries like Japan, the country would have taken a longer time to recover from the wounds inflicted on it by the occupation forces. Japan's was a special case.
Japan is one of the most technologically advanced and digitally innovative countries in the present world. So, receiving its cooperation in infrastructure development is, undoubtedly, beneficial for Bangladesh. It is gratifying to note that Japan offers to accomplish the tasks under its ODA programme. During his view-exchange with journalists, the Japanese expert has said that traffic gridlock, population density and an increasing number of vehicles are responsible for creating urban hazards. Citing the example of the poor state of urban planning and development of Tokyo before mid-19th century, the expert added that Japan can help Bangladesh in many areas. Those include subways, road development and some other related sectors. It's worth noting that the waste of huge amounts of money every year on uncoordinated development works hasn't escaped notice of the Japan's development expert. As a time-befitting requirement, the private sector's involvement with urban development projects was also not overlooked at the press meet.
Japan has been a traditional as well as trusted partner in the country's infrastructure development projects. Beginning with JICA's (Japan International Cooperation Agency) involvement in conducting a primary survey and feasibility study on the transport system in Dhaka in 2009-10, the signing of a loan agreement in 2013, and an allocation of Japanese aid package of $27.21m for two projects in Bangladesh later is a proof of the two countries' development fraternity. Japan's generosity towards Bangladesh lies in its providing $24.72 billion in grants and loans since 1972.
