He said JICA could play an important role in this sector by training personnel concerned and facilitating transfer of technology for the treatment of offenders.

Morshed Khan, who attended the discussion as chief guest, said Japan is an important partner of Bangladesh for its human resource development.

The discussion was organised by JICA Alumni Association, Bangladesh to mark the founding anniversary of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at LGED auditorium.

Dr Kamal Uddin Siddqui, principal secretary to the prime minister, Matsushiro Horiguchi, Japanese ambassador, and Takashi Sakamoto, JICA resident representative, attended the discussion as special guests.

Dr Kamal Uddin Siddqui said for a developing country like Bangladesh nothing could be more important than human resource development.

He appreciated the contribution of JICA to rural development and reproductive health.

Matsushiro Horiguchi said Japan is contributing to the development of Bangladesh by developing its human resources.

Though Bangladesh is not economically a rich country, but it is very rich in human and cultural resources, he added.

Takashi Sakamoto said JICA has prioritised five development programmes in Bangladesh including rural development, maternal and child health care and arsenic mitigation projects.

Earlier, Dr Md Mortuza Hossain Munshi, director general of social service department, presented a paper on 'Treatment and Rehabilitation of Juvenile Offenders: International Cooperation'.

He said modern rehabilitation techniques for juvenile offenders should be transferred from the developed countries to developing ones like Bangladesh.

At present three correction centres are functioning at Tongi (capacity 200) and Konabari (capacity 150) in Gazipur district and one at Jessore with a capacity of 150 offenders. The centre at Konabari is exclusively meant for girl juveniles, he added.

Dr M Enamul Huq, president of JICA Alumni Association of Bangladesh, also spoke on the occasion.