SEMINAR ON PROMOTION OF EXPORTS: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES FOR BANGLADESH

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized a Seminar on Promotion of Exports: Prospects and Challenges for Bangladesh in Dhaka on 11 December 2011. Dr. Dipu Moni, MP, Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Director General of BIISS Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc chaired the session. Four presentations were made relating to the title of the Seminar. Dr. M Mahfuz Kabir, Senior Research Fellow of BIISS delivered a presentation on Trend, Potential and Diversification of Exports (click here for the presentation). The second presentation was delivered by Dr. Nazneen Ahmed, Senior Research Fellow of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) on Exploring the Opportunities of Regional and International Dynamics (click here for the presentation). It was followed by a presentation on Looking Forward: Positioning Bangladesh in the Future World Market, made by Mr. Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Deputy Managing Director, Pran Group (click here for the presentation). The fourth presentation was made by Mr. A.Z.M. Azizur Rahman, General Manager, BEPZA on Export Diversification and Role of Export Processing Zones in Bangladesh (click here for the presentation). The presentations were followed by an interactive session of open discussion where participants from various sectors, i.e. Foreign Dignitaries, Government High Officials, Academicians, Civil Society members and members of the Private Sector and people from electronic and print media delivered their valuable opinions.

BIISS ORGANISED A ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION ON BANGLADESH-CHINA BILATERAL RELATIONS

A Round-table Discussion on Bangladesh-China Bilateral Relations was held at BIISS Auditorium on 27 September 2011. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS delivered the Address of Welcome. Mr. Dilip Barua, Honourable Minister for Industries, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh graced the Round-table as the Chief Guest and H.E. Mr. Zhang Xianyi, Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Bangladesh was the Special Guest.

Discussion was initiated by three paper presenters. Professor Ruksana Kibria, Department of International Relations, Dhaka University, Dhaka presented a paper on The Political Dimension of Bangladesh China Bilateral Relations (click here for the paper) and Dr. M. Mahfuz Kabir, Senior Research Fellow , BIISS presented a paper on Bangladesh-China Economic Relations: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities (click here for the presentation). The other paper was presented by Mr. Yang Zhaohui, Political Counsellor, Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in Dhaka on Chinese Perspective for Political and Economic Development of Bangladesh (click here for the paper).

The Open Discussion of the Round-table was actively participated by academia, media, diplomats, government officials, business circles, representatives from the civil society and other concerned professionals. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS chaired the Round-table Discussion.

NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE (NDC) AND BIISS JOINTLY ORGANIZED A SEMINAR ON CIVIL-MILITARY RELATION

A seminar on Civil-Military Relation was organized jointly by National Defence College (NDC) and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at the NDC Auditorium, Mirpur Cantonment on 27 July 2011. Lieutenant General Mollah Fazle Akbar, ndc, psc, Commandant, NDC delivered the Welcome Address. In the First Working Session three presentations were made. Dr. Shaheen Afroze, Research Director, BIISS made the first presentation on Civil-Military Relation: Implication in Enhancing National Security. The other two presentations were made by Course Members of NDC Brigadier General Mirza Ezazur Rahman, psc, G+ and Colonel EO Udoh (Nigeria) on Civil-Military Relation: Its Importance in Good Governance and Civil-Military Relation in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis in Bangladesh Perspective respectively. Lieutenant General M. Harun-Ar- Rashid, BP, rcds, psc (Retd) chaired the session.

In the Second Working Session presentations were made by Mr. A. K. M. Abdus Sabur, Research Director, BIISS, Group Captain Saif Siddiqui, psc, GD (P), Course Members of NDC, Mr. F. M. Enamul Hoque, Course Members of NDC (Joint Secretary) on Civil-Military Relation in a Democracy, Civil-Military Relation: Effect on Progress and Development of National Economy and State of Civil-Military relation in Bangladesh respectively. The Second Working Session was chaired by Brigadier General Shahedul Anam Khan, ndc, psc (Retd). The presentations were followed by lively discussion. The seminar was participated by academia, media, government officials, business circles, representatives from the civil society and other concerned professionals. Major General Muhammed Firdaus Mian, psc, Chairman, Board of Governors, BIISS delivered the Closing Remarks.

SEMINAR ON QUEST FOR ENERGY SUFFICIENCY IN BANGLADESH HELD AT BIISS

A Seminar on Quest for Energy Sufficiency in Bangladesh was organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) on Sunday 24 July 2011 in the Institute's Auditorium. The Address of Welcome was given by Major General Mohammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General of BIISS. Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, BB, Adviser to the Hon'ble Prime Minister, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Dr. Mohd. Mahfuz Kabir, Senior Research Fellow, BIISS made a power point presentation on Energy Sector in Bangladesh: An Overview (click here for the presentation). Dr. Ijaz Hossain, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET, Dhaka spoke on Policies and Strategies on Non-Renewable Energy (click here for the presentation). Dr. Shuddhasattwa Rafiq, Associate Professor, IBA Jahangirnagar University, Savar delivered on Energy Conservation and Investment on Renewable Energy (click here for the presentation). A lively and interactive open discussion session followed the presentation. Major General Muhammed Firdaus Mian, psc, Chairman, Board of Governors, BIISS presided over the session.

TALK ON INDIA AND BANGLADESH: PARTNERS IN PROGRESS BY INDIA'S EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER

Mr. S M Krishna, External Affairs Minister, Republic of India delivered a Talk on India and Bangladesh: Partners in Progress on Friday, 08 July 2011 at BIISS Auditorium. It was attended among others by Dr. Dipu Moni, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, Mr Muhammad Mijarul Quayes, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Rajeet Mitter, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh and Mr. Ahmad Tariq Karim, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS delivered the Address of Welcome. The session was chaired by Major General Muhammad Firdaus Mian, psc, Chairman, Board of Governors, BIISS.

MALDIVES MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS VISITED BIISS

An eight member delegation from Republic of Maldives led by H. E. Ahmed Naseem, Minister of Foreign Affairs visited BIISS on 29 May 2011. The other members of the delegation were high officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and highly placed business personnel of Maldives. They were also accompanied by H. E. Ahmed Sareer, High Commissioner of Maldives to Bangladesh. The delegation participated in a Round Table Discussion held in the Institutes Auditorium. During the Round Table Discussion Session Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General of the Institute gave the welcome speech. Research Director Dr. Shaheen Afroze made a presentation and briefed them about the aims, objectives, current setup and activities of BIISS. H. E. Ahmed Naseem, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives gave an overview of the present political situation and democratic reform that is ongoing in his country. Thereafter a discussion session followed in which the visiting delegation members exchanged views with the faculty members on the various issues of interest. Major General Muhammed Firdaus Mian, psc, Chairman, Board of Governors, BIISS chaired the Session.

INDIAN NAVAL HIGHER COMMAND COURSE DELIGATION VISITED BIISS

A 17 member delegation of Indian Naval Higher Command Course visited BIISS on 19 January 2011. The delegation was headed by Commodore Sanjay Bhutani, Senior Directing Staff, Indian Naval War College. They were briefed about the aims, objectives, current setup and activities of BIISS through a presentation by Research Director Mr. A. K. M. Abdus Sabur. The presentation was followed by a discussion session in which the visiting delegation members exchanged views with the faculty members on contemporary issues. Acting Director General of the Institute Colonel A K M Nazrul Islam, afwc, psc, G gave the welcome speech and Major General Muhammed Firdaus Mian, psc, Chairman, Board of Governors, BIISS chaired the discussion session.

PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE POST-CANCUN SUMMIT: CHALLENGES, LESSONS AND FUTURE PLAN FOR BANGLADESH

A Panel Discussion on The Post-Cancun Summit: Challenges, Lessons and Future Plan for Bangladesh was held at BIISS Auditorium on 18 January 2011. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS delivered the Welcome Address (click here for the welcome address). Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, BB, Adviser to Hon'ble Prime Minister, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The discussants in the panel were Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat, Vice-Chancellor, BRAC University, Dhaka (click here for the presentation), Mr. Quamrul Islam Chowdhury, Chairman, The Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh and Asia Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (click here for the presentation), , and Dr. Rezaul Karim, Director, Knowledge Frontiers for Development, Dhaka, Formerly, Head, Environment Programme, UN/ESCAP, Bangkok (click here for the paper), . The open discussion which followed was a lively and rewarding one in which there were active participation by academia, media, government officials, diplomats, business circles, representatives from the civil society and other concerned professionals including experts and practitioners on the related field. Major General Muhammed Firdaus Mian, psc, Chairman, Board of Governors, BIISS chaired the session.

BIISS ORGANISED WORKSHOP ON CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS: TRUST BUILDING AT DHAKA SHERATON

A two-day workshop on Civil-Military Relations: Trust Building was organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) with the support of the Defense Institution Reform Initiative (DIRI) of USA at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on 12-13 January 2011. The Inaugural Session of the workshop was held at 1000-1100 hours on 12 January 2011. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS delivered the Welcome Address (click here for the welcome address). Mr. John Hansen of DIRI also gave his Welcome Speech as the co-host. Dr. Gowher Rizvi, Adviser to the Hon'ble Prime Minister, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Major General Muhammed Firdaus Mian, psc, Chairman, Board of Governors, BIISS chaired the session and delivered the Closing Remarks.

In the First Working Session five presentations were made. Mr. Badrul Alam, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Defence (click here for the presentation) and Lieutenant General Abdul Wadud, ndu, psc, Principal Staff Officer, Armed Forces Division (click here for the presentation) made the first two presentations which were followed by a presentation by Dr. M Aslam Alam, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Division (click here for the presentation). Presentation on Civil-Military Coordination within the Department was made by Brigadier General Richard Simcock, Office of the Secretary of Defense, USA and Lieutenant Colonel David Sutton, J5 Directorate, US Joint Staff presented his paper on Civil-Military Coordination Between Defense Institutions (click here for the presentation). The presentations were followed by lively discussion. The Inaugural and the First Working Session were attended by diplomats, academia, media, government officials, business circles, representatives from the civil society and other concerned professionals.

The Second Working Session was chaired by Major General Erick Olson (Retd) of DIRI, USA. Presentations were made by Scholars from various US think tanks, namely Dr. Peter Chalk of RAND Corporation (click here for the presentation), Karen Knudsen of East-West Center (EWC), Bob Perito of United States Institute for Peace (USIP) (click here for the presentation) and Stephanie Sanol of Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The after lunch session of the first day including the Second Working Session was held with the nominated members of the workshop participants which included members of parliament, former ministers, opposition party members, senior civil and military officials both serving and retired and civil society representatives. The participants engaged in meaningful deliberation on related issues in the whole of second day (click here for the proceedings).

US THINK TANK MEMBERS VISITED BIISS