Dr Abul Barkat, former chairman of the Department of Economics, Dhaka University, has received one of the top civilian awards of Japan for establishing the Department of Japanese Studies at the University of Dhaka.
Japanese Ambassador Iwama Kiminori conferred “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon” at a ceremony at his residence on Thursday night.
“He laid a strong foundation of Japanese studies in the academic sphere in Bangladesh,” said the Japanese Ambassador.
The ambassador expressed his sincere gratitude to Dr Barkat.
The university authority gave him the responsibility to run a new centre on Japanese studies in 2012 as its director. Due to his role, the centre was turned into a full-fledged department a few years later.
Dr Barkat was a professor of the department of economics during that time. He was also the chairman of the state-run Janata Bank Limited.
Established in 1875, “The Orders of the Rising Sun” was Japan's first award. It features rays of sunlight radiating from the rising sun.
Under that Order, there are several awards including the Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
In 2018, Japan Study Centre was upgraded to the Department of Japanese Studies at the University of Dhaka. This initiative has led students at Japanese Studies in the University to be able to attain a bachelor's and master's degree in the department.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Associate Professor Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun, chairman of the Department of Japanese Studies, University of Dhaka attended the ceremony to celebrate the great contribution of Prof Abul Barkat.