Who isn’t, by now, aware of how inextricably Japan is tied with our past, present, and most importantly, our future? Japan has always been a friend in need for us. Not only is the nation the largest bi-lateral donor for Bangladesh, the government of Japan and its agencies have thus far been committed to see a better Bangladesh grow, and have been contributing in the development of our humble little nation along the way.
Organisations like JICA and JETRO are the symbols of fraternity for Bangladesh’s civil bureaucrats and policy-planners. Lately, we have been seeing many Japanese companies exploring market opportunities in Bangladesh in various streams of the economy: Textiles, finance, infrastructure, IT, agriculture, social entrepreneurship, etc. Bangladeshi exports to Japan have been accelerating in recent years, about to touch the billion-dollar mark.
As a bank relationship manager, and lately as an investment facilitator, I had the opportunity to work with many Japanese organisations -- Chiyoda Corporation during the Kafco establishment, Obayashi Corporation during the Meghna Bridge construction, Marubeni Corporation while working with Bangladesh manufacturers and enterprises, Sumitomo Corporation while putting up many plants in Bangladesh, Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, Mizuho Bank, SMBC, and lately Taiyo Life Insurance.
I have found each and every one of them to be extremely professional and ethical in their practices. Though a little slow in decision-making and always looking to their leaders for said decisions, each of them were extremely humble, and along the way, respecting our local knowledge and the fraternity we have built over time.
Never have I found a Japanese friend of mine visiting my office or house without a souvenir from their country, small or big -- be it the Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh or our friends from JICA or JETRO, they were always sincere about their possible contributions in our development process.
They never bragged about their help, wanting to do as much as they could. I learned from some friends how JICA came on their own to reconstruct hundreds of our bridges and culverts after only reading a newspaper article. Most pleasingly, for any Bangladeshi, Japan never wanted anything in return. Japanese debts are as good as IDA loans or debts. Regular “debt relief grants” made these more attractive for Bangladesh policy-planners.
For the last decade or so, none of the larger Bangladeshi projects went to any Japanese builders or contractors. But Japan, unlike China or India, never raised any questions about it and continued with their development aid to Bangladesh.
Japanese company Uniqlo wanted to put a large textile joint venture, but they could not find a big enough place with all utility connected.
They did not want to create pressure on the government, in the end shelving the project instead. Ask Pacific Jeans in Chittagong or Ananta Garments in Dhaka, they will tell you grand stories about their export rise to Uniqlo.
As a banker to many large projects, I had the opportunity to work with leading Indian as well as Chinese contractors. To my utter surprise, I could even see an Indian boatman engaged with the contractor while building a cement project in Sylhet. Our friends in the bridges, roads, and highways division would ask how many Chinese workers engaged with Padma Bridge construction or other large projects. On the contrary, most Japanese grants and loans are untied and left with Bangladeshi decision-makers for ultimate execution.
Projects worth $4bn are being implemented in Bangladesh as I we speak. If we include Matarbari projects and other infrastructure build-ups, the number rises to more than $10bn. The government is in further discussion with its Japanese counterparts to support the establishment of a few other large pride projects as well.
A lot of us are aware of the strides being made by Japanese agencies or its private sector. However, what they don’t know is the way our government has hurt the hearts of our most valued and long-standing friends. Initial reaction and the blame game orchestrated by government higher-ups and their loyalists, after the killing of a Japanese social worker, was the prime example of how not to treat a good friend.
Questions like “why did this person go to a remote place to grow grass?” or “since he has converted to Islam and staying in Bangladesh for long, he is no more a foreigner” are hurtful at best and downright insulting at worst. The Buddhist temple massacre in Ramu compelled a large Japanese life insurer to not invest in Bangladesh. The whole incident with the killing and the way it has been handled and commented on so far will have far-reaching impacts on our most proven and committed development partner.
Our leadership, the government machinery, and their loyalists should offer an unconditional apology to the nation of Japan and its people. Hurting a childhood friend or a friend in need never proves to be good for anyone.
