Seminar on “Rethinking Water Futures: Youth Leadership, Justice, and Cooperation” on 08 October 2026

Press Release

Seminar on

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

BIISS Auditorium, Dhaka

08 October 2026

The 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.

During the working session, 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, participated as Panellists.

In his welcome address, Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, awc, afwc, psc, G, highlighted the importance of water management and transboundary water cooperation for Bangladesh. He emphasised the need for meaningful youth participation in water diplomacy, equitable water governance and sustainable management of water resources for future generations.

In his keynote speech, Humaiun Kobir highlighted the importance of water diplomacy on multilateral platforms and discussed opportunities for Bangladesh to strengthen international partnerships, technology transfer and scientific cooperation. He spoke of the importance of effective international engagement and stronger cooperation with like-minded countries in advancing Bangladesh’s interests in transboundary water management.

The discussions addressed various dimensions of transboundary water management, including water justice, inclusive governance, scientific and data cooperation, multilateral water diplomacy and public-private partnerships. The panellists emphasised the need to view water management not just as an issue of resource allocation but also as a multidimensional concern closely connected with the environment, economy, food security, livelihoods, peace and regional cooperation. The discussions also brought to the forefront the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for youth leadership and participation in decision-making and policy processes related to transboundary water governance.

In his speech, the Chief Guest, Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee MP, spoke of the importance of equitable and sustainable approaches to water resource management and transboundary water cooperation. He emphasised the need for inclusive participation of relevant stakeholders and for ensuring that the interests of future generations remain an integral consideration in water governance and policymaking.

Senior officials from various ministries and government agencies, diplomats, researchers, academics, water and environmental experts, faculty members and students from different universities, youth representatives, private-sector representatives, civil society members, NGO representatives, think-tank representatives and media professionals participated in the event. Their valuable views and experiences during the open discussion session enriched the deliberations of the Seminar.