Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) organized a seminar “Towards a Bay of Bengal Community - setting up a Bay of Bengal Institute as a knowledge base” on Thursday in IUB campus in Bashundhara, Dhaka.
Dr Quamrul Ahsan, National Water Resources expert; Brig-Gen (retd) Shahedul Anam Khan, associate editor, The Daily Star; Ambassador (retd) Munshi Faiz Ahmad, chairman, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), and Ambassador (retd) Tariq A Karim, senior research fellow, Bay of Bengal Institute Project, IUB; were the keynote speakers of the seminar. Also Erika Hasznos, deputy head of Political Section, EU Delegation to Bangladesh; Chhimmy Pem, director, Cultural Division, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and Dr Samiya A Selim, associate professor and director, Center for Sustainable Development, University of Liberal Arts and Towhid Samad, trustee, IUB were present at the seminar as special guests. Deans and faculty members of different schools of IUB attended the seminar.
The programme started with a welcome remark by Professor Dr Milan Pagon, vice chancellor (acting), IUB. The speakers discussed the scientific overview of the Bay of Bengal, its geo-strategic importance, blue economy, geo-political status and the importance and pros and cons of establishing a Bay of Bengal Institute. Following the presentations, the floor was open for a question and answer session where Trustee, Deans and faculty members participated enthusiastically.
