M F Rahaman
Dhaka, August 29, 2025
The two-day Bengal Delta Conference 2025 kicked off today at the Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka, organized by the think tank Dhaka Institute of Research and Analytics (Daira). This year’s theme, “Bangladesh at Crossroads: Rethinking Politics, Economics, and Geopolitical Strategy,” reflects the nation’s evolving political landscape following the transformative July Uprising.
The opening session began with the national anthem and a minute of silence to honor the martyrs of the Uprising. Shehrin Amin Bhuiya, Assistant Professor at the University of Dhaka, chaired the session. A powerful documentary on Bangladesh’s recent socio-political changes was also screened.
Delivering the keynote address, Mohammad Touhid Hossain, Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Interim Government, made a compelling statement that resonated through the ballroom:
“The youth of Bangladesh will not allow the country to return to the political reality of pre-2024.”
He emphasized that the July Uprising marked a fundamental shift in Bangladesh’s political consciousness and warned against attempts to revert to old power structures. Hossain also touched on global issues, including the Ukraine war, the Gaza genocide, and trade tensions, linking them to the urgent need for reform in Bangladesh’s education system.
“Educational inequality is the most serious issue. A very small group gets access to quality education, and this must change,” he said.
Other notable speakers included Dr. Mushtaq Khan (SOAS, UK), Dr. Maszlee Malik (former Malaysian Education Minister), and Dipak Gyawali (former Nepali Minister). They echoed support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition and emphasized the potential for regional cooperation, especially with ASEAN.
The conference continues tomorrow, with sessions on governance, climate resilience, and the blue economy.
Source: Bengal Delta Conference
