Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Saturday said Bangladesh chooses to be an active, sovereign, and responsible player, noting that in moments of realignment, states are tempted to pick sides but Bangladesh should first pick the right course.
"We will engage robustly, speak firmly when needed, and partner productively always with an eye on national interest and regional stability," he said, underscoring five priorities in this moment of realignment.
Adviser Hossain made the remarks while speaking at the inaugural session of ‘Bay of Bengal Conversation 2025’, organised by Centre for Governance Studies (CGS).
Chief Justice of Bangladesh Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) President Zillur Rahman and CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi spoke at the inaugural session.
Shifting Geometry of Power
Highlighting the first priority- the shifting geometry of power, Adviser Hossain said Bangladesh insists on its sovereignty and the right to pursue its national interest.
"In practice this means that our partnerships must deliver tangible benefits, not symbolic only," he said.
Hossain said they will engage with major and middle powers alike, but their decisions will be guided by national interest, sovereign equality, and mutual respect.
The Bay of Bengal region is becoming a strategic fulcrum, and Bangladesh intends to be a confident actor, not a passive corridor, he said.
Fragmentation of Stability
On the fragmentation of stability, Hossain said from Ukraine to Gaza, from Sudan to Myanmar, the global system of crisis-management has been tested, and often found wanting.
"My country knows the cost of fragility, we have opened our doors to hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, we have contributed to UN peace missions, and we know how quickly humanitarian crises can escalate," he said.
The Adviser said stability is not only a regional concern; it is a global imperative.
"We must build efficacious multilateral and regional institutions that deliver, not just talk, and an agenda that translates into action," he said.
Weaponization of Knowledge
On the weaponization of knowledge, Hossain said in this age, information is no longer a by-product of power, it is a tool of power.
AI, deepfakes, orchestrated misinformation and disinformation, surveillance, all are reshaping diplomacy, democracy and governance, he said.
"Bangladesh stands ready to engage with these themes, to protect our information space, and to promote regulatory frameworks that safeguard both security and rights," said the Adviser.
Economic Realignment
Highlighting economic realignment, Hossain said supply chains are fragmenting, sanction regimes are multiplying, and de-risking has become a keyword for the future of trade.
For Bangladesh, he said, this means they must diversify, deepen regional cooperation, and strengthen regional connectivity.
"We also must ensure that economic partnerships are not predatory, but rooted in mutual opportunity and resilience," Hossain said.
He said they must harness the boundless potential of the Bay of Bengal and turn it into a corridor of growth and prosperity.
Climate, Borders and Security
Talking about climate, borders and security in the region, Hossain said as a low-lying country facing the rising seas, salinity intrusion, and migration pressures, Bangladesh is exposed to the risk of global warming, rising sea levels, increased salinity and internal displacement of population.
In this sea and all around it, he said, they must construct cooperative frameworks, share technology and resources, and link our security to our environment.
"Let this region not just react to climate shocks but become a leader in climate-resilient diplomacy," Hossain said.
This year’s theme, “Rivals, Ruptures, Realignments: Navigating Power and Purpose in a Disordered World”, aptly captures the moment they find themselves in today, Hossain said.
At this very moment, he said, the architecture of international relations is being re-written.
"Alliances founded in earlier eras are under strain. New actors and interests are reshaping the map of power.
"The patterns of yesterday no longer guarantee the outcomes of tomorrow. For Bangladesh, and for all littoral countries of the Bay of Bengal, these are not distant abstractions, they are concrete, urgent realities," Hossain said.
The Bay of Bengal Conversation (BoBC) 2025 will be continued until November 24 in Dhaka.
BoBC has emerged as one of South Asia’s most important Track-II diplomacy platforms, offering space to examine the fast-changing landscape of global politics, Zillur said.
This year, the conference will center on global rivalries, regional realities, shifts in alliances and partnerships, information warfare, artificial intelligence, climate change, economic pressures, and migration, issues that define the world they live in today.
CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi highlighted the strategic relevance of the region.
“The Bay of Bengal is one of the world’s most dynamic zones of population growth and economic activity. BoBC creates a rare opportunity to bring together the region’s diverse experiences and policy approaches under one platform," he said.
BoBC 2025 brought together 200 speakers, 300 delegates, and more than 1,000 participants representing 85 countries.
