BIISS-SIPG Roundtable

Roundtable on "BIISS-SIPG Roundtable"

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) jointly organized a roundtable discussion titled “BIISS-SIPG Roundtable” on 08 February 2026. The event gathered security analysts, regional connectivity experts, and researchers to deliberate on the evolving geopolitical dynamics and infrastructure corridors shaping South and Southeast Asia.

Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, awc, afwc, psc, G, Director General, BIISS, chaired the session and delivered the welcome address, highlighting the critical need for adaptive frameworks in regional cooperation. Following his address, the Director of SIPG delivered introductory remarks, setting the stage for a series of technical presentations focused on multilateral transit corridors.

The roundtable featured comprehensive presentations mapping the future of regional integration. SIPG opened the presentations with a paper titled "Reframing BCIM to BCM+I: Why Regional Connectivity Must Adapt to Geopolitical Reality," exploring the strategic necessity of recalibrating existing cooperation frameworks. This was supported by panel presentations from BIISS researchers. Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director, BIISS, presented on "Revisiting Regional Connectivity: Prospect of 'BCM+I'", while A S M Tarek Hassan Semul, Research Fellow, BIISS, delivered an analysis titled "Caught between Geopolitics and Crises: Bangladesh and the Unrealised Promise of Regional Connectivity," focusing on the challenges Bangladesh faces amid shifting regional balances. The presentations were followed by a vibrant open discussion among participants, concluding with remarks by the Session Chair, an exchange of mementos, and a group photograph.

Objectives of the Roundtable

• To evaluate the transition from BCIM to BCM+I: Examining the strategic and structural reasons behind shifting regional cooperation models to better fit current geopolitical realities.

• To assess Bangladesh's role in regional corridors: Analyzing how Bangladesh can navigate contemporary crises and geopolitical competition to unlock the unrealized potential of cross-border trade and connectivity.

• To identify barriers to integration: Discussing the political, economic, and security challenges that delay the successful implementation of regional transit agreements.

• To foster institutional collaboration: Strengthening research partnerships between BIISS and SIPG to generate actionable policy recommendations for navigating regional connectivity dynamics.