BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a webinar on “Leadership of Bangabandhu and Its Relevance to the Contemporary World” on 18 August 2020 to remember the National Mourning Day and pay solemn reverence to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and all the martyrs of 15th August 1975.  His Excellency Dr. A K Abdul Momen, MP, Honourable Prime Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Major General Md Emdad Ul Bari, ndc, psc, te, Director General, BIISS, commenced the programme with his address of welcome, and Ambassador M Fazlul Karim, Chairman, BIISS, gave his introductory speech.  

The programme is mainly run by a panel discussion. Ambassador Muhammad Zamir, Former Chief Information Commissioner of Bangladesh, Professor Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, Professor Dr Selim Jahan, Visiting Fellow, Columbia University and the University of Oxford, Professor Dr Syed Anwar Husain, Bangabandhu Chair Professor, Bangladesh University of Professional gave their presentation on various topics ranging from foreign policy to economic and development of Bangladesh. During the panel discussion, both academics and ambassador shared their valuable experience by remembering the darkest chapter in the history of Bangladesh that occurred in 1975.

The webinar holds significance since Bangladesh is commemorating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation this year, it is pertinent to revisit his ideas, thoughts, and vision which helped the nation to achieve independence and the country to gain a respectable position in the family of nations. Linking to this, the panel discussants emphaised foreign policy and diplomacy highlighting the historical overview and its linkage with Bangabandhu’s thoughts and ideas. In addition, the issues of economics and development of Bangladesh stressing on Bangabandhu’s visions, ideas, and thoughts for the current economic progress are discussed elaborately at the webinar. The presenters furthermore discussed elaborately on international peace and security and Bangabandhu’s perceptions and roles in maintaining global peace and tranquility. After the open discussion, the programme was ended by the concluding remarks by the panelists highlighting on Bangabandhu’s relevance in the 21st century.