Premier Bank Foundation inaugurates Japanese Language Centre

A Japanese Language Centre has been officially inaugurated at Dr Momtaz Begum University of Science and Technology in Bhairab, Kishoreganj, through an initiative of the Premier Bank Foundation.

The ceremony was graced by Maho Nakayama, Director of Japan's Sasakawa Peace Foundation, as chief guest. The programme was presided over by Mohammad Imran Iqbal, Chairman of Premier Bank and a member of the university's Board of Trustees.

Special guests included Jamal G Ahmed, Vice Chairman of Premier Bank and Trustee Board Member; Dr Emadul Islam, Senior Research Fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and adviser to the university; Professor Dr Mohammad Azizul Haque, Acting Vice-Chancellor; Professor Dr Md Ashraful Alam, Vice-Chancellor of Sylhet International University; and Md Tarek Uddin, Head of Brand Marketing and Communications at Premier Bank.

Maho Nakayama welcomed the centre's establishment, expressing hope for deeper educational and cultural collaboration between Bangladesh and Japan. Chairman Mohammad Imran Iqbal described it as a milestone for international friendship and reaffirmed the university's commitment to supporting meritorious and underprivileged students.

Board member Jamal G Ahmed noted the longstanding Bangladesh–Japan relations and said the centre would benefit students for years to come. Dr Emadul Islam praised the initiative as timely, citing Japan's excellence in education and innovation.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Azizul Haque thanked the board for promoting higher education in Bashgari, the birthplace of the university's founder, Dr HBM Iqbal. Though the university only began academic activities in July 2024, it has already adopted an outcome-based curriculum. He expressed hope that the centre would enhance global competencies among students.

The event began with a presentation by Ashik Al Aziz, Dean of Engineering, on the university and its new language centre.