Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) jointly organized a policy dialogue titled “Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Development in South Asia” on 10 December 2019 at the BIISS Auditorium. In total, 100 participants including 35 UNESCAP delegates from several South Asian countries were presented in the dialogue to discuss various issues. The dialogue had seven sessions including the inaugural and concluding sessions. The remaining ones were working sessions, all with their respective themes, moderators, designated speakers, panelists and open discussion.
In the inaugural session, speakers were Major General A K M Abdur Rahman, OSP, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS; Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Director, ESCAP, South and Southwest Asia Office, New Delhi; H.E. Dr. Puspa Raj Kadel, Vice Chairman, National Planning Commission, Nepal; and H.E. M Shahidul Islam, Secretary General, BIMSTEC. In his welcome address, Major General A K M Abdur Rahman noted that though process of globalization is in full motion, this region sadly lags far behind in critical matrix of poverty vs. prosperity, peace vs. violence and terrorism, corruption vs. governance, and state capability vs. fragility. Thus, countries of this region should understand the long-term benefits of regional multilateral cooperation because such cooperation can support the development of stronger transportation systems, collective action against climate change, agricultural best practices and contributions to scientific development.
