Feature

Journey
to a
dreamland...

Edward Apurba Singha

ASIAN economic powerhouse Japan has now become a very lucrative destination for Bangladeshi youngsters to materialize their dreams. Currently significant number of Bangladeshi students are studying in various Japanese universities in different disciplines. Many Japanese companies have already hired a good number of Bangladeshi IT professionals.

Apart from this, Bangladesh could be an outsourcing zone for the Japanese companies. The IT workforce is relatively cheap here compared to India and China. Many Japanese companies consider this issue seriously and at the same time they envision to expand their presence in the local market in near future. It is crystal clear that opportunities are knocking on the door.

Recently I got the opportunity to attend the “32nd Japanese Language Speech Contest” where I met Mr. Masayuki Inoue, Honorable Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh.

At the end of the program I requested him to give his comment on the Bangladeshi talents. He said, “Bangladeshi people have enormous potential and they just need right opportunity to prepare themselves for the Japanese market. Language is a crucial issue and in this regard program like “speech contest” could play a significant role to increase participation. We are committed to helping Bangladeshi youngsters so that they can get the right scope to exhibit their inner talents”.

Presently several Japanese Government scholarships are available in Bangladesh. Any Bangladeshi citizen with right eligibility can apply for these scholarships. They are listed below:

1. Monbukagakusho Scholarship
2. Asian Youth Fellowship (AYF)
3. Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS)

Monbukagakusho Scholarship
This scholarship program is offered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho), Government of Japan.

This scholarship is divided into five segments such as graduate level, undergraduate level, college of technology, professional training school and Japanese studies. All of these five types of scholarships are available through the Embassy of Japan, before the students enter Japan. Most scholarships are for graduate students (research student). There are a few scholarships for students of undergraduate level, college of technology, professional training school and Japanese studies.

Asian Youth Fellowship (AYF)
The Japan Foundation Asia Center offers scholarships to the Asian students who wish to study at graduate schools in Japan. This scholarship is provided for 14 months of Japanese language study in Malaysia to students from 11 Asian countries, followed by a degree at a graduate school in Japan as a Japanese Government Scholarship (Monbukagakusho) student.

Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS)
Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) project is one of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) programs of the Government of Japan implemented in 10 Asian countries including Bangladesh.

But prior to arriving in Japan students or professionals need to be proficient in Japanese language.

Japanese Language Training Centers in Bangladesh

Name Contact Details

Institute of Modern Languages
University of Dhaka, Ramna,
Dhaka-1000
Tel: 880-2-9661900-41 Ext. 6230

Dhaka Japanese Language Institute
House No.5/9, Block-D, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207. Tel: 880-2-811-3176, 811-1197 and 880-2-9113148

JICA Alumni Association
272 Elephant Road (2 nd. Floor), Dhaka -1205 Tel: 880-2-8612438 ( 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. )

AOTS Alumni Japanese Language School
Room No.31-32 (7 th Floor), Eastern Plaza, Hatirpool, Sonargaon Road, Dhaka-1205, Tel: 880-28613856

Nippon Academy
Osman Court, 70 Agrabad Commercial Area, Chittagong-4100 Tel: 880-31-71-0673