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The economic development model that the countries of South East Asia followed in the last decades of the twentieth century was the Japanese model . It turned them into Asian Tigers. Though the Asian economic crisis nearly shattered them, they survived it, because it was the Japanese model. This Japanese economic model survived the devastation of the World War and two atom bombs.
The secret of this model is the family ownership and life-long employment. In fact the world feudal relation was transformed into capitalist production line. Tsunenari Tokugawa, president of Tokugwa Memorial Foundation, recently visited Dhaka and held a seminar on Japanese model of development in presence of the Japanese ambassador in Bangladesh.
Tokugawa era is a unique example of the world history when a nation with a population of thirty million with an effective government was able to keep pace with time and turned Japan a modern industrial power that was able to assemble the world's mighty navy and air force that shattered the European domination of Asia. In its self-destruction Japan freed Asia from colonial yoke. Though the Chinese protest Koizumi visit to the holy shrine, the Chinese revolution could never materialise or India could never be freed if Japan had not shattered imperialist hegemony over Asia in the Second World War. Secret of this power was the economic power and the Asian feeling of belonging to each other. No atom bomb could shatter it. Japan like a phoenix rose from its ashes and lifted whole of Asia with it.
Today Japan is our greatest aid giver, but most important it is helping us to be economically self-reliant. They have helped us build communication infrastructures with the chain of bridges. Japan has also benefited from it with the exports of its cars. Subaru declared it will make a new model for Bangladesh.
I was passing through Vikrampur , our ancient capital under Pal dynasty. From here our navy carried Buddhism all over South East Asia and reached North East to Japan. Name of Atish Dipankar, our scholar and saint, still echoes through Asia . Our navy reached Avatari - Ao Teora, the present day New Zealand, and our saint climbed high the Himaylays.
Vikrampur which once spread 30 miles by 15 miles was devoured by the mighty river Padma. The Japanese are going to help us build the Padma bridge.
But most surprising is that some of our best economic entrepreneurs come from Vikrampur. I talked to Yahya Khan Choudhury, a member of am industrial family, over a cup of tea at Aziz Supermarket. His employees call him Bhai and they have life long employment just like in Japan.
Micro-credit was in our country two thousand years ago. It was called Mahajani system aimed at helping each other. Bangladesh had too its model that it gave to Asia through Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.
In a reawakened Asia we should share it with each other.
Thanks to Tokugwa and ever friendly Japanese Ambassador Matsushiro Horiguvhi.
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