State Minister for Cultural Affairs K M Khalid has said Bangladesh can learn from the miraculous development of Japan - how this country developed from the ashes after World War II. He was speaking as the chief guest at the launching ceremony of a new book titled "Bangladesh-Japan Diplomatic Relations (1972-2022): A New Paradigm of Strategic Partnership" held at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador on Tuesday evening. The book is written by Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam, Associate Professor of the first ever area studies department at the University of Dhaka—Department of Japanese Studies. Professor Dr A S M Maksud Kamal, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) joined the ceremony as special guest. Professor Dr. Delwar Hossain, Member of Bangladesh Public Service Commission and Professor of International Relations, University of Dhaka spoke as the discussant. The State Minister said the book has stressed upon the present relation and the future direction of the relations between these two friendly nations. "This is a great book. This is a very rare academic work focusing on bilateral relations. I would say, very historic academic work," said Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki. He described the book as a historic mark in academia considering the 50 years of Bangladesh-Japan diplomatic relations. Naoki also predicted it to be highly influential for future academics. "It's a great day for me," said Dr Jahangir Alam, the author of the book. Delwar Hossain said this book covers contemporary issues particularly from the perspective of political science, international relations, etc. "It has a comprehensive focus which is the strongest part of this book. It has a comprehensive focus on Bangladesh-Japan relations," he said.    Prof Maksud Kamal said Japan is the number one bilateral development partner of Bangladesh which is helping Bangladesh implement some most significant megaprojects including the Matarbari deep sea port, MRT line in Dhaka, and third terminal of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The ceremony was presided over by Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun, Chairman of the Department of Japanese Studies, University of Dhaka. He mentioned that this is one of the rarest academic endeavours in the field of bilateral relations between the two nations. The main objective of the book is to explore and examine the Japan-Bangladesh comprehensive relations to understand Japan’s miraculous development models and apply them in Bangladesh’s development policy initiatives and planning to achieve the SDGs by 2030 and ‘Vision 2041’. The chapters of the book attempt to make a comparative study among the South Asian countries with relevant policy recommendations for further improvement of the said bilateral relations. However, asymmetric in nature, many academia and a cross-section of people in Bangladesh believe that the Japanese economic development model should be replicated in Bangladesh. To explore those possibilities, a couple of chapters of this book revisited Bangladesh-Japan’s comprehensive diplomatic relations since the former’s independence would simultaneously strengthen the bilateral relations between the two nations.  

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid for a second time has tested positive for Covid-19. The Minister submitted samples at the Government Employees Hospital and received a positive report after RT-PCR covid test on Tuesday, said a media release. Earlier on January 27, Khalid and his wife Dr Shohela Aktar tested positive for Covid-19. Also Read: State Minister Khalid, wife contract Covid

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has said no explosives have been found at the BM Container Depot in Sitakunda, and rather raised the spectre of sabotage behind the fire. He was making remarks at the Secretariat on Tuesday, after returning from visiting the depot and witnessing the damage and loss of life. "It is being said there was hydrogen peroxide," Khalid said, trying to explain that the hydrogen peroxide had nothing to do with the large blast that occurred 45 minutes to an hour after an initial fire broke out, that firefighters were fighting at the time. Also read: Legal action against depot fire culprits after probe, says IGP This first blast, said to have been felt as far as 4 kilometres away from the epicentre, totally transformed the scale of the disaster. Among many others, perhaps the majority of the victims, 9 firefighters are apprehended to have died from the sheer force and intensity of this blast, that left an apocalyptic scene of severed limbs strewn around the depot. In a shocking lapse that can only be blamed on the depot authorities, those first responders were not informed of hydrogen peroxide being stored at the depot. "But hydrogen peroxide is not an explosive item," Khalid kept insisting today, even though no-one said it was. "It is an approved export item that Bangladesh has been exporting for a long time." The junior minister believes only explosive items can cause explosions. Hydrogen peroxide is certainly not in that category. It is not even classified as a flammable or combustible item, as it will not fuel a fire on its own. Where there is already a fire though, hydrogen peroxide, or H2O2, can be very dangerous. That is because it is an oxidizer, which means it adds oxygen or other elements that behave similarly to a situation. Despite not necessarily being combustible themselves, oxidizers are treated as a 'severe fire hazard'. Depending on the amount, they can 'greatly intensify fires and cause explosions'. Being an approved export item or how long it has been exported has nothing to do with its chemical properties. Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury also praised the depot for following the ISPS code (International Ship and Port Facility Security code), and being fully compliant. There was everything that an effective emergency fire fighting system requires, he observed. Also read: Container depot fire under control after 60 hours: Army “Even then, such a fire broke out. Whereas among all the container depots, BM Container Depot is said to be the best-managed," said the state minister. Asked what could have caused the explosion, Khalid said oxygen itself does not burn but helps others to burn -"something like that" might have happened in this case. If he didn't ignore the fact that hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer, he may have acknowledged the danger posed by its presence. Continuing the conspiracy rhetoric, Khalid referenced 'a rumour', in which the inauguration of Padma Bridge on June 25 was being tied to the Sitakunda fire. From this connection being drawn, the depot fire raises legitimate suspicions of sabotage, according to the state minister. "From what I've seen, if you go practically, you will find the same. Everything will come out through investigation. We have expressed our concern, so those who are investigating may also take cognizance of this possibility,” he added. As a further point in favour of his conspiracy theory, he added: “Many are jealous of the way Bangladesh’s economy is moving forward." However, Khalid did assert that if the investigation were to find any negligence on the part of the owners, they would "definitely" be brought under the law. "There is no doubt about it,” he concluded.