Seminar on “Rethinking Water Futures

Seminar on “Rethinking Water Futures: Youth Leadership, Justice, and Cooperation”

Date: 08 October 2026
Venue: BIISS Auditorium, Dhaka
Organised by: Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS)

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a Seminar on “Rethinking Water Futures: Youth Leadership, Justice, and Cooperation” on 08 October 2026. Humaiun Kobir, State Minister-1, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, delivered the keynote speech as the Guest of Honour. Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee MP, Minister, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, attended the event as the Chief Guest. The session was chaired by Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, awc, afwc, psc, G, Director General of BIISS, who also delivered the welcome address. 

Panellists During the working session were Malik Fida Khan, Executive Director, Centre for Science, Technology, Policy, and Diplomacy; Shaikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan, Principal Adaptive Planning Specialist, Deltares, Netherlands, and Vice President (01), Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP); and Zerin Ahmed, former technical coordinator, Y&W Engagement, Transboundary Rivers of South Asia, Oxfam International.

In his welcome address, Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, awc, afwc, psc, G, underscored importance of water management and transboundary water cooperation for Bangladesh. He emphasized the necessity of meaningful youth participation in water diplomacy, equitable water governance, and the sustainable stewardship of water resources for future generations. Delivering the keynote speech, State Minister-1 Humaiun Kobir focused on leveraging water diplomacy across multilateral platforms, outlining opportunities for Bangladesh to enhance international partnerships, facilitate technology transfer, and deepen scientific cooperation. He highlighted the value of robust international engagement and collaboration with like-minded nations to effectively advance Bangladesh's strategic interests in transboundary water management.

Subsequent panel discussions examined multiple dimensions of transboundary water governance, including water justice, inclusive policy frameworks, scientific and data cooperation, multilateral diplomacy, and public-private partnerships. The panelists stressed that water management must be viewed beyond mere resource allocation, recognizing it as a multidimensional issue deeply intertwined with environmental protection, economic stability, food security, livelihoods, regional peace and cooperation. Speakers also reiterated the vital need of fostering youth leadership and ensure their active participation in decision-making and policy processes. Chief Guest Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, MP, highlighted the imperative for equitable and sustainable water resource management alongside transboundary cooperation. He underscored the importance of inclusive stakeholder participation and ensuring that the long-term interests of future generations remain central to water governance and policymaking.