Published: 01:46 AM, 22 November 2025
Fourth edition of Bay of Bengal Conversation begins in Dhaka today
Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) holds a press briefing at Pan Pacific Sonargao in Dhaka on Friday. -Collected
Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) President Zillur Rahman on Friday formally announced the commencement of the fourth edition of its international conference, the Bay of Bengal Conversation (BoBC) 2025, which will be held in Dhaka on November 22-24 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," he said while speaking at a press briefing.
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.
The theme for BoBC 2025 is "Rivals, Ruptures, Realignments."
Zillur said they chose this theme because we are living through a moment of profound transition.
The Bay of Bengal Conversation has always believed in the power of informed discourse, and the media is an essential part of that ecosystem.
"Our focus is on global issues, and the discussions will not specifically cover the elections in Bangladesh. It is time for Bangladesh to take its place as an active player, rather than remain a spectator.
Tomorrow we begin three days of rich conversation. We hope for a very successful event"
At the same press briefing, 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.
He also said BobBC is the largest track II conference in Asia. "Despite political problems or being a small country we are hosting the conference for the 4th time in a row. We have very stimulated and interesting discussions ahead for the three days of the conference."
Also present at the briefing were Subir Das, Member of the CGS Board of Directors; Depanjali Roy, Chief of Staff; and other members of the CGS team.
The press conference concluded successfully with an engaging question-and-answer session, where participants addressed key issues and shared valuable insights.
The three-day event will take place from 22 to 24 November at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka.
Over time, BoBC has grown into South Asia's largest geopolitical international conference, establishing itself as a significant platform for regional diplomacy and strategic dialogue.
The Inaugural Speaker at this year's conference will be Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed.
BoBC 2025 will bring together 200 speakers, 300 delegates, and more than 1,000 participants representing 85 countries.
The guest list includes former heads of state, ministers, diplomats, military experts, academics, researchers, journalists, business and investment leaders, human rights defenders, technology specialists, and representatives of international development organizations.
