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Press Release

Bay of Bengal Conversation
Dhaka | May 28-30, 2022

We are delighted to announce the Bay of Bengal conversation hosted by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), Bangladesh. It will take place between 28 and 30 May 2022 at the InterContinental Dhaka.

Located in Dhaka, Bangladesh, this forum seeks to catalyze conversations on what is fast emerging as one of the most important and dynamic political and growth geographies of the world. The Bay of Bengal region is already at the forefront of the global response to two important processes. The first process necessitates a dramatic shift in our collective approach towards human development, public health, environmental protection, and prosperity. The Bay of Bengal may indeed be where the new alignment between nature and humans will be discovered, and pathways for mainstreaming billions into the economic processes will be fashioned.

The second process, though less agitated, has far-reaching consequences for the world order. Existing governance structures are failing, and new institutions and arrangements that can help manage the Asian Century and the Bay of Bengal region are yet to be discovered. If the future is this region that its management is frail and contested should be a cause of concern to all. The rules for the road ahead, the actors who underwrite them, and the regulators who govern the processes will have to be discovered and created in the region along with other stakeholders.

In both of these processes it is clear to most observers that the role of Bangladesh is seminal. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) will be achieved largely due to the efforts of countries such as Bangladesh, countries which are scripting significant transitions, and are responding to their people’s aspirations in a manner that is sustainable, equitable and scalable. Bangladesh’s transition by the power of example will implicate the dimensions of growth for the entire region and beyond. Similarly, the politics of the Bay of Bengal and the larger Indo-Pacific region will dynamically shape the emerging political order in this century. Bangladesh will be one of key actors of the Asian century and therefore creating an ‘ideas arena’ to discuss key developments and challenges in Dhaka is an acknowledgement of its role.

The three days dialogue will look at both the emerging regional and global political order and the associated institutional framework. Convening over 200 delegates from over 70 countries to join the brightest minds in Bangladesh, the Bay of Bengal Conversation is a platform designed to discuss, ideate and debate the most pressing global imperatives. The conversation will bring together diverse voices across sectors and geographies as it seeks to discover new ideas and propose new solutions that serve an emerging human-centric world order out of the Bay of Bengal region.

“Bangladesh is a fast growing dynamic country. It has significant contributions to make towards the global growth and sustainability agenda. Bangladesh will play a critical role in shaping the emerging political order in Asia and the larger Indo-Pacific. We are delighted to create a global platform shaped and steered by our impressive colleagues and collaborators. This flagship international conference of the CGS will bring together diverse voices across sectors and geographies as it seeks to discover new ideas and propose new solutions that serve an emerging human-centric world order out of the Bay of Bengal,” said Zillur Rahman, Chair of the Conference and Executive Director of the Centre for Governance Studies.

“The Bay of Bengal Conversation is a collaborative effort to curate a premier global arena that will catalyze and foster debates and conversations on key issues that the global community must respond to with urgency. We are confident that Dhaka offers an excellent venue to house these discussions,” said Dr. Manjur ahmed chowdhury, Chairman of the Centre for Governance Studies.