Engineer Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury has been awarded the “JICA Recognition Award” for what the Japan development agency says is his role in its activities.
He became the first Bangladeshi to receive the award introduced last year.
This year, JICA awarded four persons chosen from nominees from 170 countries where their development activities run. The other three were from Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
JICA Chief Representative in Dhaka Takao Toda handed over the recognition crest to Choudhury at a ceremony on Tuesday.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Economic Relations Division Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Bridges Division Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam and Roads Division Secretary MAN Siddique were present at the function.
JICA says the award has been instituted to pay its ‘gratitude’ to individuals and organisations for “the cooperation and long standing contribution to JICA’s activities”.
Choudhury supported JICA development projects for the last 25 years by taking care of its civil engineering needs.
JICA in a media release made a particular mention of his role in the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Project, Chittagong Airport Development Project, and Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project.
It says he advised Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Project authority in preparing ‘Terms of Reference’ for feasibility studies and environmental impact studies.
He also provided technical guidance during the studies and as Chairman of the Local Panel of Experts advised government policymakers during discussions with co-financers.
As team leader of the Expert Advisory Team in the Chittagong Airport Development Project, he advised the civil aviation authorities and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism on different aspects of “planning, design, progress monitoring, quality control and contract” for the Shah Amanat International Airport.
JICA says the route of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project is based on his suggestions.
In spite of the political unrest, JICA says it is committed to complete projects in time.
It will use new Japanese technology like “steel pipe sheet foundation” and “steel narrow box girder bridge” in the “Kanchpur, Maghna and Gumti 2nd Bridges Construction and Existing Bridges Rehabilitation Project” signed in March this year.
In the last 20 years, JICA said their support to the transport sector stood at $ 4 billion.
Source: Bd news24