Seminar on Evolving Strategic Scenario in the Bay of Bengal Region

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in collaboration with National Defence College, Dhaka, organised a Seminar on “Evolving Strategic Scenario in the Bay of Bengal Region: Bangladesh Perspectives” on Sunday, 14 May 2023 at the NDC Auditorium, NDC, Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka. The seminar was organised for the visiting Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) delegation led by Lieutenant General (Retd) Sir George Pemberton Ross Norton, Commandant, RCDS. The Seminar was chaired by Dr Delwar Hossain, Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka and Member, Public Service Commission (PSC). Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin, OSP, SGP, BAMS, afwc, psc, Director General, BIISS, delivered the welcome address. 

Three papers were presented in the Seminar. ASM Yousuf, Research Director, BIISS, made a presentation on “The Geopolitics of the Bay of Bengal Region and Priorities of Bangladesh”.  Dr Muhammad Shahadat Hossain Siddiquee, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, presented a paper on “Geoeconomisc of the Bay of Bengal Region and Sustaining Bangladesh’s Development Amidst Looming Global Recession”. Ambassador M Humayun Kabir, President of Bangladesh Entreprise Institute (BEI), presented his paper on “Rohingya Crisis and Responsibility of the International Community”. 

In his address of welcome, Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin, OSP, SGP, BAMS, afwc, psc, Director General, BIISS said Bangladesh is a key littoral of the Bay of Bengal, a hub for regional and interregional trade and commercial activities. It promotes its own priorities, such as "Friendship to all, and malice to none", regional cooperation, multilateralism, economic cooperation, climate change and disaster management, defence diplomacy, maritime cooperation, and energy supply. Bangladesh is actively participating in regional multilateral arrangements to promote its development agenda. However, the Rohingya crisis is a major concern, and the country is focusing on engaging major regional and global powers to ensure stability. Bangladesh pursues a policy of mutual respect and benefit, tolerance and peace, and dialogue and negotiations.