BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

BIISS organized a seminar on Bangladesh War of Liberation: Aspirations, Achievements and an Outlook for the Future on 23 December 2009 to commemorate the 38th Anniversary of the Victory Day of Bangladesh. The objective of the Seminar was to assess the achievements of Bangladesh in a host of crucial areas of national endeavours like democracy, development, national security, foreign policy and culture in the backdrop of aspirations of the War of Liberation in the respective fields followed by the projection of an outlook for the future. Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, MP, Deputy Leader of the House, Bangladesh Parliament graced the seminar as the Chief Guest. Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, BB, Adviser to the Hon'ble Prime Minister, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was present as the Special Guest. Major General Sheikh Md Monirul Islam, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS delivered the Welcome Address . Five papers were presented in the seminar. Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue presented a paper on Development which was followed by a presentation on Democracy by Mr. Hasanul Haque Inu, MP, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication. Major General Helal Morshed Khan, BB, psc (Retd), Convenor, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Central Command Council made a presentation on National Security. Presentations on Foreign Policy and Culture were made by Ambassador K. M. Shehabuddin, Former Ambassador of Bangladesh and Mr. Aly Zaker, Prominent Cultural Personality and an Awardee of Ekushey Padak respectively. Major General Muhammed Firdaus Mian, psc, Chairman, Board of Governors, BIISS, chaired the session. In the Open Discussion of the seminar there were active participation by academia, media, government officials, business circles, representatives from the civil society and other concerned professionals. It may be mentioned here that every year BIISS organizes this seminar on the occasion of the Victory Day focusing on the topics of national security, foreign policy and related issues.