The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Bangladesh jointly organised a seminar titled “Young Leaders, Sustainable Futures: Advancing the SDGs Together” at the BIISS auditorium on 09 June 2026. Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, awc, afwc, psc, G, Director General, BIISS, delivered the welcome address and chaired the session. Mr Sudhir Muralidharan, Country Manager, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Bangladesh, delivered the welcome remarks. H E Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) gave the opening address. The seminar brought together young leaders, researchers, academicians and professionals to discuss the critical role of youth engagement in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The seminar featured speakers Md Rafid Abrar Miah, Research Fellow, BIISS, and Professor Dr Kazi Maruful Islam, Department of Development Studies and Director, Centre on Budget and Policy, University of Dhaka. Professor Dr SM Abdul-Awal, Principal Coordinator for SDGs in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), attended the programme as the Special Guest and delivered his address. Senior government officials, representatives from international organisations, academicians, researchers, development practitioners, students and young professionals attended the seminar and enriched the discussion with their valuable opinions, comments, suggestions and observations during the interactive question-and-answer session.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
