The projects are Improvement of the Storm Water Drainage System in Dhaka City (Phase-II), Human Resources Development Scholarships (JDS) and Establishment of the Meteorological Radar System in Moulvibazar.

Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Masayuki Inoue and Secretary of Economic Relations Division Aminul Islam Bhuiyan signed the Exchange of Notes at ERD on behalf of their respective governments.

Under the first agreement, 919 million yen equivalent to Tk 54 crore will be provided for the improvement of the Storm Water Drainage System in Dhaka City (Phase-II).

As the urban drainage is one of the most important and urgent issue, this grant will be utilised for improving and reinforcing the existing infrastructure of drainage facilities as well as urban health, safety and hygienic conditions in the high priority drainage zones in the capital.

Considering its importance, the Government of Japan has been supporting the project since 1991.

Since then three pumps having 10 m3/s capacity and other relevant equipments were installed and these facilities are contributing to environmental development in the capital during rainy season.

The grant will cover reinforcing the capacity of earlier-constructed Kalyanpur Pumping Station and sludge removal capacity through open channels and drainage pipes, and procurement of various equipments.

Earlier, under a Japanese grant the basic design of this project was prepared by the government and Dhaka Wasa is executing the project.

The second agreement was signed for the establishment of Meteorological Radar System in Moulvibazar at a cost of 1000 million yen equivalent to Tk 59 crore.

Bangladesh is a land which is always affected by flood, flash floods, storm, cyclone and other natural calamities. All these natural calamities cause significant setback of national economy and living standard of people.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) and Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) are unable to obtain adequate data for providing weather forecast and warning for flash flood or flood causing heavy rainfall in the northern Sylhet, the upper river basin of Meghna, and Meghalaya Hills which are located out of the detection range of the existing radar network of BMD.

Flash flood occurs frequently in these areas, but the existing warning system is not functioning efficiently.

So an improvement of the warning system is very important because an early warning is the key component for the success of disaster management.

Japan has been assisting in the construction of meteorological radar system in Bangladesh in order to ensure the country's sustainable development.

In order to adopt preventive measures from natural disaster, the Government of Japan, upon request of the Government of Bangladesh had earlier completed the Basic Design Study for the establishment of Meteorological Radar System in Moulvibazar.

The construction of new Doppler Radar Station in Moulvibazar will be most effective for timely forecasting and warning to minimise the damages in lives and properties in the regions.

There are also meteorological radar systems in Rangpur, which was built in 1999, and another one in Cox's Bazar, which was inaugurated in April this year. A project to improve such system at Khepupara is going on.

The third agreement was signed for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) programme for the next year at a cost of 294 million yen equivalent to Tk 17 crore.

Under this programme, the government will start selecting candidates for 7th JDS in August this year.

A total of 20 people will be selected for studying in Japan for two years from July 2008.