More than 150 Bangladeshi alumni of Japan-funded scholarship programmes convened in Dhaka on Thursday for the first-ever joint alumni gathering, celebrating decades of educational collaboration between Japan and Bangladesh.
The event - hosted by the Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Programme (ADB-JSP) and the ADB Bangladesh Resident Mission - was organised in close cooperation with Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank.
The milestone gathering brought together key stakeholders and alumni to reflect on the transformative impact of education, foster stronger international partnerships, and reaffirm their shared commitment to building a knowledge-based, poverty-free society, according to a press release from ADB.
Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Shinichi Saida attended the event as a distinguished guest, along with JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Tomohide Ichiguchi, ADB Executive Director for Japan Shigeo Shimizu, and ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong, among others.
"We take pride in seeing that Japan-funded scholarships, particularly through the ADB-JSP, have empowered scholars to become leaders," said ADB Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong. "As alumni continue to apply their knowledge and skills, they contribute to advancing socioeconomic development throughout Asia and the Pacific.
The Japan-funded scholarship programmes remain committed to supporting human capital development and reducing poverty."
Speakers at the event highlighted the achievements of alumni who are driving positive change in their respective sectors and communities, underscoring the transformative power of education and international collaboration.
Bangladesh is among the top recipients of Japan-funded scholarships, reflecting its strong commitment to higher education and global engagement. Each year, the ADB-JSP alone awards around 135 graduate scholarships for studies in economics, business and management, science and technology, and other development-related fields.
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