Public Diplomacy in South Asia

Roundtable Discussion on "Public Diplomacy in South Asia: Bangladesh in Focus"

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized a roundtable discussion titled “Public Diplomacy in South Asia: Bangladesh in Focus” on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, at the BIISS Auditorium. The event convened diplomats, academic scholars, and foreign policy experts to examine strategies for strengthening Bangladesh's soft power footprint and cultural diplomacy within the South Asian landscape.

Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, awc, afws, psc, G, Director General of BIISS, initiated the roundtable with the opening remarks. To set the tone for the discussion, Dr. Razia Sultana, Senior Research Fellow at BIISS, delivered a foundational presentation titled "Boosting Bangladesh’s Public Diplomacy: South Asia in Context".

The technical segment transitioned into panel discussions featuring prominent figures in national foreign policy and regional governance. The panel included S.M. Mahbubul Alam, Director General of the Public Diplomacy Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and Dr. Marufa Akter, Associate Professor in the Department of Global Studies and Governance at the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). Following an engaging open discussion with the participants, Dr. Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East and West) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed the session as the Guest of Honour. The insights of the day were synthesized during the summing-up session by the moderator, Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams, Former Secretary (East) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Former Rector of the Foreign Service Academy.

Objectives of the Roundtable

• To evaluate regional public diplomacy strategies: Analyzing contemporary models of soft power and cultural diplomacy to effectively project Bangladesh’s positive national image across South Asia.

• To strengthen institutional foreign policy linkages: Fostering deeper coordination between state research bodies like BIISS, academic institutions, and the Public Diplomacy Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• To identify challenges in regional narrative building: Examining the structural, media, and political barriers that impact Bangladesh's diplomatic communication and engagement within the neighborhood.

• To explore multi-stakeholder participation: Expanding public diplomacy beyond traditional government channels by involving academics, think tanks, and civil society actors in regional dialogue.

• To formulate actionable policy blueprints: Offering strategic recommendations to policymakers on leveraging cultural, educational, and economic tools to advance Bangladesh's long-term national interests in South Asia.