Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a roundtable discussion with Senior Director Eileen Laubacher, Senior Director for South Asia, the United States (US) National Security Council (NSC), and her delegation on 09 January 2023, at the BIISS auditorium. Members of the delegation included: Helen LaFave, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy, Dhaka; Brian Luti, Director for South Asia Regional Center, National Security Council, US Government; Scott Urbom, Office Director, South, and Central Asia Bureau, US State Department; Arturo Hines, Acting Political/Economic Counselor, US Embassy, Dhaka; Justin Halpern, Indo-Pacific Affairs Officer, US Embassy, Dhaka.
Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin, OSP, SGP, BAMS, afwc, psc, Director General of BIISS, delivered the Welcome Address. In the roundtable, four presentations were made by BIISS faculties. Mr Rubel Molla, Research Fellow of BIISS, presented on “The Evolving Geopolitical and Strategic Environment in the IndoPacific Region”; Mr M Ashique Rahman, Senior Research Fellow of BIISS, presented on “Bangladesh-US Cooperation for Enhanced Security in the Indo-Pacific Region”; Dr Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director, BIISS, presented on “Indo-Pacific Economic
Framework: Opportunities and Expectations”; and Mr Abu Salah Md Yousuf,
Research Director, BIISS, presented on “Strengthening Bangladesh-US Cooperation for
Dignified Repatriation of the Rohingyas”. Senior Director Eileen Laubacher delivered
her speech on US-Bangladesh Cooperation and Collaboration in the Indo-Pacific Region.
The presentations were followed by an open discussion. Later, Ms Helen LaFave, Deputy
Chief of Mission, US Embassy in Dhaka, delivered her remarks. Colonel M A Saadi,
afwc, psc, Research Director of BIISS, moderated the session. Finally, the roundtable
ended with concluding remarks from the DG, BIISS.
