Workshop on maritime trajectories organized in Dhaka

The Australian government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian National University's National Security College and Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development (BIMRAD) jointly organized a workshop on maritime domain awareness with special emphasis on the Indian Ocean region from 16 to 18 November 2025 in the capital Dhaka city.  

Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Navy Admiral M. Nazmul Hassan attended the event as the chief guest. On the other hand, Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle and BIMRAD Chairman Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali graced the program as special guests.

Navy officers from France, Australia, New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka attended the workshop and put forward their visions, ideas and experiences in alignment with different maritime trajectories during the program.

Professor Dr. David Brewster, Senior Research Fellow of Australian National University addressed the workshop sharing with the audiences his findings and institutional explorations on maritime phenomena. Academic scholars from the United States of America joined the event too. Officers belonging to Australian Border Force and Australian Maritime Border Command also participated in the workshop.

BIMRAD Director General Commodore (Retd) Syed Misbah Uddin Ahmad talked about his own military career in Bangladesh Navy with special references to research work, foreign trade, international maritime diplomacy, Blue Economy, maritime industries etcetera. The speakers at the workshop also spoke on illegal migration and narcotic cartels which are currently major maritime threats. Incorporating maritime literature and nautical fiction in universities across Bangladesh was also suggested by some discussants.

Officers from Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force, university intellectuals and media professionals attended the workshop among some other invited guests.