A SEMINAR ON SAARC AND ITS FUTURE

To commemorate the 27^th SAARC Charter Day, the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a Seminar on ‘SAARC and its Future’, on 23 December 2012 at BIISS Auditorium, Dhaka. Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan, MP, State Minister, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, graced the Seminar as the Chief Guest. The Seminar was presided over by Ambassador Q A M A Rahim, Former Secretary General, SAARC Secretariat. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes ndc, psc, Director General of BIISS delivered the Address of Welcome. Professor Ainun Nishat, Vice Chancellor, BRAC University, Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Senior Research Fellow, BIISS, and Ambassador (Retd) C. M. Shafi Sami, Former Foreign Secretary presented three papers. Scholars, members of academia, policy makers and diplomats participated in the Seminar (click here for the proceedings of the Seminar).

 Seminar on “CHT – Revisiting the Peace Accord”

A Seminar on “CHT – Revisiting the Peace Accord” was organised by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at the institute’s Auditorium in Dhaka on 2 October 2012. The objectives of the Seminar were to (a) discuss about the progress of the implementation of the CHT Peace Accord and its positive effects on the overall development of the CHT, (b) to bring out the impediments and also find the ways out to overcome the impediments in implementing the Accord and (c) to discuss the role of Bangladesh Government, Bangalee, Tribal and other stakeholders for the implementation of the Peace Accord. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General of BIISS, delivered the Welcome Address. Syeda Sajeda Choudhury, MP, Deputy Leader of the Bangladesh Parliament and Chairman of Peace Treaty Implementation Monitoring Committee, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Major General Mohammad Ashab Uddin, ndc, psc, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) was the Keynote Speaker of the Seminar. Brigadier General Shahedul Anam (Retd.), Editor, Defence and Strategic Affairs, The Daily Star, delivered his Remarks as the Panelist. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes chaired the Seminar with a lively Open Discussion and also delivered his Closing Remarks. In the Open Discussion, academia, government officials both from military and civilian administrations, media, representatives from the civil society and other concerned professionals actively participated in the Seminar and contributed with their valuable comments, opinions and suggestions (click here for the summary of the proceedings).

 Two-day Regional Conference on "Development and Management of River Basins: The Case of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM)"

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in collaboration with the Regional Programme SAARC of the Konrad-Adenaur-Stiftung (KAS) organised a two-day long Regional Conference on “Development and Management of River Basins: The Case of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM)” on 05-06 September 2012 at the BIISS Auditorium, Dhaka.

Air Vice-Marshal (Retd.) A K Khandker, BU, MP, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh inaugurated the Conference as the Chief Guest (click here for the paper). Dr. Ralf Reusch, Charge d’ Affaires, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to Bangladesh, was present at the Inaugural Session as the Special Guest (click here for the paper). Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General of BIISS chaired the Inaugural Session (click here for the paper). Mr. Tomislav Delinic, Director, Regional Programme SAARC, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), New Delhi made the opening remarks.

Scholars, members of academia and policy makers from Bangladesh, China, India, Nepal and Thailand participated in the Regional Conference. The Conference was divided into four working sessions including the concluding session. 7 papers were presented in the Regional Conference on various issues related with the development and management of river basins particularly the GBM basins.

Lecture on “Securing Our Cyber Space: Challenges and Future Directions”

A Lecture on “Securing Our Cyber Space: Challenges and Future Directions” was organised by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at the institute’s Auditorium in Dhaka on 14 August 2012. The objective of the Lecture was to identify the insecurities in the cyber space including causes and drivers of cyber crime and evaluate current preparedness in order to formulate a response strategy to fight the crime and secure our cyber space. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General of BIISS, delivered the Welcome Address. Ambassador (Rtd.) Muhammad Zamir, the Chief Information Commissioner of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Colonel Md Nazrul Islam Sarker, afwc, psc, Research Director of BIISS, introduced the Speaker, Dr. Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo (click here for the presentation), a Fulbright Scholar and Senior Lecturer at the University of South Australia. Dr. Choo delivered the Lecture, and provided suggestions for future strategies and directions to secure the cyber space. Major General Imrul chaired the Lecture with a lively Open Discussion, and also delivered his Closing Remarks. In the Open Discussion, academia, government officials both from military and civilian administrations, media, representatives from the civil society and other concerned professionals actively participated in the Lecture and contributed with their valuable comments, opinions, and suggestions. (click here for the proceedings of the Lecture).

LECTURE ON EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY AND EMPOWERMENT: A SOUTH ASIAN PERSPECTIVE

A  Lecture on ‘Equity, Opportunity and Empowerment: A South Asian Perspective’ by Hon’ble Professor G. L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka was jointly organised by BIISS and BEI at BIISS Auditorium on Monday, 6 August 2012. Professor Dr. Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs Adviser to Hon’ble Prime Minister presided over the Lecture Session. The Addresses of Welcome were delivered by Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS and Ambassador Farooq Sobhan, President, BEI.     

Following the Lecture, a lively Open Discussion session took place where distinguished scholars, members of the academia, representatives of multi-disciplinary professional bodies, representatives from the foreign missions, government and non-government agencies and policy makers actively participated, raised questions and gave their valuable comments, suggestions and recommendations (click here for the proceedings of the Lecture).

Panel Discussion on "RIO+20 CONFERENCE: OUTCOME AND WAY FORWARD"

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a Panel Discussion on RIO+20 CONFERENCE: OUTCOME AND WAY FORWARD on 01 August 2012 at BIISS Auditorium. Dr. Hasan Mahmud, MP, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS delivered the Address of Welcome and chaired the session. The distinguished panelists were Dr. Atiur Rahman, Governor, Bangladesh Bank, Prof. Ainun Nishat, Vice-Chancellor, BRAC University, Dhaka, Dr. Atiq Rahman, Executive Director, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) and Mr. Quamrul Islam Chowdhury, Chairman, The Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh and Asia Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists. The discussion was followed by a lively question and answer session. It was attended by diplomats, academia, media, government officials, business circles, representatives from the civil society and other concerned professionals (click here for the summary of the proceedings).

 Roundtable Discussion on “Arms Control in Bangladesh & the UN Arms Trade Treaty Conference”

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and Saferworld-Bangladesh jointly organised a Roundtable Discussion on “Arms Control in Bangladesh & the UN Arms Trade Treaty Conference” at the BIISS Auditorium on Wednesday, 11 July 2012. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General of BIISS delivered the Introductory Remarks. Brigadier General SK Abu Bakr, psc (Retd), Member of Parliament graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

BIISS ORGANISED A TWO-DAY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON “CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF TWENTY FIRST CENTURY SAARC”

A two-day International Conference on “Challenges and Opportunities of Twenty First Century SAARC” was organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at the BIISS Auditorium, Dhaka on 03-04 April 2012. The Concluding Session of the Conference was held at 1400-1620 hours on 04 April 2012. Dr Dipu Moni, MP, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc chaired the session and delivered the Closing Remarks.

The objectives of the two-day International Conference were to: (i) Determine the major challenges to regional cooperation in South Asia; (ii) Identify the issues standing in the way of regional cooperation and the key areas where the SAARC should focus on to turn itself into a purposeful organization; (iii) Make an evaluation of the role played by the member states since the organization came into being; and (iv) Explore the best practices of other regional cooperation organisations like ASEAN or the EU in order to evolve SAARC into an effective regional cooperation organisation.

There were four Working Sessions in this two-day International Conference which commenced on 03 April 2012. In the Inaugural and First Working Session Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS delivered the Welcome Address. This Session was chaired by Ambassador (Retd) Dr. M. Afsarul Qader, Former Director General, BIISS. Three presentations were made in the session. Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed, Professor, Department of International Relations University of Dhaka, Dhaka made the first presentation on Regionalism in South Asia: A Conceptual Analysis (click here for the paper). The second presentation was made by Dr. Bazlul H Khondker, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka on Economic Growth of South Asia: Challenges and Opportunities (click here for the presentation). The third presentation was made by Mr. Quamrul Islam Chowdhury, Chairman, the Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh and Asia Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists, Dhaka on Climate Change: South Asian Perspective (click here for the presentation).

The Second Working Session was chaired by Mr. Abul Hasan Chowdhury, Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs. Four papers were presented. The first two presentations were made by Air Marshal Satish Govind Inamdar (Retd), Member Executive Council, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, India and Dr. Manzurul Mannan, Visiting Fellow, South Asian Studies Programme, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore on Connectivity in South Asia – Indian Perspective and Connectivity in South Asia (click here for the paper) – Perspectives of the Smaller Neighbours of India (click here for the presentation) respectively. The other two papers were presented by Mr. Nitya Nanda, Fellow, Centre for Global Agreements, Legislation & Trade Resources, the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, India and Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat, Vice-Chancellor, BRAC University, Dhaka on Energy Security – A Cooperative Approach in South Asia (click here for the presentation) and Education and Regional Cooperation (click here for the presentation) respectively.

In the Third Working Session papers were presented by Mr. Mohammad Ashique Rahman, Research Fellow, BIISS, Dhaka (click here for the presentation), Dr Anand Kumar, Associate Fellow, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, India (click here for the presentation), Prof. Rabindra Khanal, Department of Political Science, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal (click here for the presentation), Dr. Maqsudul Hasan Nuri, Acting President, Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Islamabad, Pakistan (click here for the paper) and Ambassador Nihal Rodrigo, Former Secretary-General of SAARC, Sri Lanka (click here for the paper). They all presented paper on the Role of their respective countries in Promoting Regional Cooperation in South Asia. Major General Muhammad Abdul Matin, ndc, psc (Retd), Former Director General, BIISS chaired this Session.

Two papers were presented in the Concluding Session. Dr. Shanthie Mariet Dsouza, Research Fellow, National University of Singapore, Singapore presented a paper on ASEAN Experience of Effective Regional Cooperation: Relevance for SAARC (click here for the presentation). Mrs. Yin Yin Myint, Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Myanmar made her presentation on Twenty First Century SAARC: Myanmar (click here for the paper) Perspective. Summary Proceedings of the Conference was presented by Colonel A K M Nazrul Islam, afwc, psc, G, Research Director of BIISS in the Concluding Session.

The presentations in each session were followed by lively discussion. All the sessions of this two-day International Conference were attended by diplomats, academia, media, government officials, business circles, representatives from the civil society and other concerned professionals.

TWO-DAY DIALOGUE BETWEEN BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES (BIISS) AND INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE STUDIES AND ANALYSES (IDSA)

A two-day dialogue between Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses (IDSA), India on “Bangladesh-India Relations: Way Forward” was hosted by BIISS on 28-29 March at BIISS auditorium. The delegation from IDSA was led by its Director General, Dr. Arvind Gupta. Other members of the delegation were Dr. Smruti S Pattanaik, Research Fellow, Dr. Anand Kumar, Associate Fellow and Dr. Medha Bisht, Associate Fellow.

This was the third BIISS-IDSA dialogue where various issues related to Bangladesh-India relations were discussed. In his opening remark, Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, Director General, BIISS, called for establishing a functional and cordial relation between Bangladesh and India while securing win-win position for both. On the other side, in his opening remark, Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director General, IDSA, appreciated Bangladesh’s development performance as well as its regional and global role and said that as a neighbouring country Bangladesh occupies a significant place in India’s foreign policy. The dialogue consisted of three working sessions where researchers from both institutions made presentations on a number of issues: foreign policy of Bangladesh and India, management of Bangladesh-India land border, overcoming non-tariff barriers in Bangladesh-India trade, implications of river linking project of India, optimising benefits from transit to India and reflections of Bangladesh-India relations in media. The working sessions were chaired by Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, Director General, BIISS; Ambassador (Retd) C. M. Shafi Sami, former Foreign Secretary and Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director General, IDSA respectively. On the second day a roundtable discussion was held on “Future of Bangladesh-India Relations” which was chaired by Mr. Abul Hasan Chowdhury, former State Minister for Foreign Affairs. In the free and frank open discussion, speakers from both sides emphasised on deepening the relationship between the two countries. They also identified that it is in the best of the interest of both the countries to move further in identifying new avenues of cooperation.

PRESENTATION ON MARITIME BOUNDARY ISSUES BETWEEN BANGLADESH AND MYANMAR

A presentation on Maritime Boundary Issues between Bangladesh and Myanmar was organized by BIISS in its Auditorium on 28 February 2012. The presentation was made by Rear Admiral Md. Khurshed Alam, (C ), ndc, psc (Retd), Additional Secretary (UNCLOS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (click here for the paper). Dr. Dipu Moni, MP, Hon'ble Minister for Foreign Affairs, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh graced the programme as the Chief Guest. The presentation was followed by a lively question and answer session. It was attended by diplomats, academia, media, government officials, business circles, representatives from the civil society and other concerned professionals. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General BIISS delivered the Address of Welcome and chaired the session.

BIISS ORGANISED AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PROSPECTS FOR PEACE AND SECURITY THROUGH REGIONAL COOPERATION IN 21^ST CENTURY SOUTH ASIA: THE ROLE OF JAPAN

A two-day International Conference on Prospects for Peace and Security through Regional Cooperation in 21^st Century South Asia: The Role of Japan was organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) with the support of the Japan Foundation at the BIISS Auditorium, Dhaka on 04-05 January 2012. The Inaugural Session of the workshop was held at 1000-1045 hours on 04 January 2012. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS delivered the Welcome Address. Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Faruk Khan, psc (Retd), MP, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. H. E. Mr. Shiro Sadoshima, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, attended the Inaugural Session as the Special Guest. Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc also chaired the session and delivered the Closing Remarks.

This two-day International Conference was held to present the final version of the papers produced as the outcome of the research project undertaken a year back with a view to determine the major challenges to regional cooperation in South Asia, and explore Japan's existing and potential role in South Asian region. The aim was to fill-in the gaps in the current research which will be published in a book form. The research has been conducted by the scholars from Japan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

In the First Working Session two presentations were made. Lieutenant General Dr. Mohd Aminul Karim, ndc, psc (Retd), Senior Research Fellow, Asia-Europe Institute, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia made the first presentation on Regionalism in South Asia: A Conceptual Analysis (click here for the paper). The second presentation was made by Dr. Toshiya Hoshino, Professor, Osaka School of International Public Policy (OSIPP) Osaka University, Osaka, Japan on Japan's Foreign Policy toward Asia in the 21st Century (click here for the presentation). The First Working Session was chaired by Ambassador (Retd) Dr. M. Afsarul Qader, Former Director General, BIISS.

The Second Working Session was chaired by Ambassador (Retd) C. M. Shafi Sami, Former Foreign Secretary and Former Chairman of Board of Governors, BIISS. Presentations were made by Mrs. Neila Husain, Country Representative, Saferworld, Bangladesh Programme (click here for the presentation) and Prof. Rabindra Khanal, Department of Political Science, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal (click here for the paper) on The Role of Japan in Promoting Regional Cooperation in South Asia and Japan- Nepal Relations respectively.

In the Third Working Session two presentations were made by Prof. P. Sahadevan, Professor, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India and Prof. Delwar Hossain, Professor, Department of International Relations, Dhaka University, Dhaka on Japan-India Relations and Japan- Bangladesh Relations respectively. Major General Muhammad Abdul Matin, ndc, psc (Retd), Former Director General, BIISS chaired the Session.

The Fourth and Concluding Session was chaired by Major General Muhammad Imrul Quayes, ndc, psc, Director General, BIISS. Dr. P.S.M. Gunaratne, Dean, Faculty of Management, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka presented his paper on Japan-Sri Lanka Relations in this Session.

The presentations were followed by lively discussion. The Inaugural and Working Sessions were attended by diplomats, academia, media, government officials, business circles, representatives from the civil society and other concerned professionals.

The Summary Proceedings of the Conference was presented in the Concluding Session by the Coordinating Director of the Conference Colonel A K M Nazrul Islam, afwc, psc, G (click here for the Summary Proceedings).