The American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB), in collaboration with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), Japan, and Rikkyo University, Japan, organized an international seminar titled “Understanding South Asian Geopolitics through Bangladesh” at the AIUB Auditorium in Dhaka on 8 July 2026.
The seminar commenced with welcome remarks by Dr. Naonori Kusakabe, CMS Fellow at SPF and Associate Professor at Rikkyo University, who emphasized the importance of strengthening intellectual exchanges between Bangladesh and Japan and highlighted Bangladesh's growing relevance in regional strategic discourse. The event was also attended by SPF representatives Dr. Akiko Horiba, Director of CMS, and Dr. Masato Toriya, CMS Fellow and Associate Professor at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
The seminar featured a distinguished panel of speakers from leading universities. Mr. Sayeed Ibrahim Ahmed, Assistant Professor of Finance at AIUB, discussed Bangladesh's economic transformation and its expanding role in regional connectivity, outlining pathways towards becoming a US$1 trillion economy. Professor S. M. Ali Reza of the University of Dhaka examined the future of Bangladesh–Japan relations within the broader context of South Asian diplomacy.
Addressing international norms and global governance, Md. Mostafa Hosain, Assistant Professor at the School of Law, BRAC University, explored the prospects for a rules-based international order and Japan's role in supporting Bangladesh. Dr. K. M. Mahiuddin of Jahangirnagar University presented lessons from Japan on promoting the social inclusion of persons with disabilities, arguing that meaningful inclusion must extend beyond legislation into everyday public life. Dr. Saleh Md. Shahriar of North South University analysed China's soft power strategy in Bangladesh, while Professor Shahab Enam Khan of Bangladesh University of Professionals concluded the thematic sessions by examining Japan's engagement in South Asia and its implications for Bangladesh's strategic calculus.
A particularly engaging feature of the seminar was the use of the technology-enhanced learning platform Mentimeter to capture audience perceptions in real time. The responses consistently portrayed Bangladesh as a strategic connector—a gateway for trade, connectivity, and regional economic corridors. Participants also identified water and the Bay of Bengal as central geopolitical considerations and viewed Bangladesh as a normative powerhouse and geopolitical pivot state, reflecting its increasing strategic significance amid evolving regional dynamics.
The programme was moderated by Dr. Mohd Zahidul Islam Khan, Registrar of AIUB, who emphasized the importance of scholarly engagement in understanding the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape of South Asia. The seminar concluded with closing remarks by Professor Dr. Saiful Islam, Vice Chancellor of AIUB, who reaffirmed the university's commitment to interdisciplinary research, international collaboration, and evidence-based policy dialogue on issues of regional and global importance.
The event was attended by Professor Dr. Md. Abdur Rahman, Pro-Vice Chancellor of AIUB, along with deans, faculty members, policy experts, researchers, and students from universities across Bangladesh. The seminar reinforced the value of academic diplomacy, interdisciplinary scholarship, and international collaboration in advancing understanding of South Asian geopolitics while highlighting Bangladesh's growing prominence in regional and global affairs.
