On 5 September, JSPS Bangkok Office held a program briefing in co-operation with the Bangladesh JSPS Alumni Association (BJSPSAA) at Paragon House in Dhaka City, Bangladesh.

Prof. Dr. M. Afzal Hossain, President of BJSPSAA, kicked off the meeting with opening remarks. He also introduced the activities of BJSPSAA, saying that BJSPSAA greatly contributed to the promotion of academic research in Bangladesh.

Prof. Dr. Hossain

Following was the introduction of JSPS and activities of JSPS Bangkok Office by Prof. Yamashita, Director of JSPS Bangkok Center.

Prof. Yamashita

Mr. Yamada, Deputy Director of JSPS Bangkok Center, explained JSPS’s various international programs. Postdoctoral Fellowship program is one of the most popular programs for Bangladeshi researchers. For FY2013, more than 10% of awardees of the fellowship was dominated by Bangladeshi researchers. However, many researchers were interested not only Postdoctoral and Invitation Fellowship programs but also various international programs, such as Bilateral Joint Research, Open Partnership and Core-to-Core programs.

Mr. Yamada

About 60 people attended the seminar and all of them seemed to have enjoyed the seminar, especially interaction among participants. Throughout the seminar, many questions were raised. Some participants introduced their own experience and others made comments on them and discussion went on.

In the end of the event, traditional Bangladesh clothes were presented to Mr. Yamada and other staff from BJSPSAA.