BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a roundtable discussion titled “ASEAN-Bangladesh Relationship: A Way Forward” at BIISS Auditorium on Monday, 17 February, 2025. Ambassador Md Jashim Uddin, Foreign Secretary, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, was the Chief Guest. Major General Iftekhar Anis, BSP, awc, afwc, psc, PEng, Director General, BIISS, delivered the address of welcome. The Director General also chaired and moderated the session.

 

Mr M Ashique Rahman, Senior Research Fellow, BIISS, delivered the keynote presentation on  “ASEAN and Bangladesh: Enhancing Relationship and Bangladesh’s Roadmap to becoming ASEAN’s Sectoral Dialogue Partner”. This has been followed by discussions from three distinguished panelists: Dr A S M Ali Ashraf, Professor and Chair, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, presented on “Bangladesh’s Bid to become Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN: Opportunities and Way Forward”, Dr Oh Ei Sun, Principal adviser at Pacific Research Center of Malaysia and Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs, spoke on “Strengthening Bangladesh-ASEAN Ties”, and Dr Shahab Enam Khan, Professor, Department of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University presented on “ASEAN’s Membership: Lessons Learned from Experiences of Newly Admitted Members”. The roundtable discussion included an open discussion session where stakeholders/resource personnel from multiple sectors, including government officials, civil society members, academics, practitioners, the private sector and representatives of regional and international organisations contributed to the discussion.