The ‘Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026’, an international dialogue on Bay of Bengal-centric geopolitics, regional security, artificial intelligence, economic connectivity, climate change and good governance, is set to begin on Saturday, October 3, and will run until October 5 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. The event will bring together policymakers, diplomats, businessmen, researchers, academics, journalists, and civil society representatives from more than 100 countries around the world, making it one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the region. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will deliver the inaugural address at this year’s session.
The guest list for the conference includes former and current heads of state, ministers, diplomats, military experts, university professors, researchers, businessmen and investors, journalists, human rights activists, technology experts, and representatives of international development organisations. The broad participation reflects the growing importance of the Bay of Bengal as a strategic and economic space, and the conference aims to address both the challenges and opportunities that arise from the region’s position as a junction between South and Southeast Asia.
CGS President Zillur Rahman officially announced the start of the conference at a press conference held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on Friday morning. Highlighting the five main pillars of this year’s Bay of Bengal Conversation, he said, “The importance of the Bay of Bengal is gradually increasing in the context of maritime security and regional geopolitics. One of the goals of this event is to find effective solutions to the problems and opportunities arising around this region as a junction of South and Southeast Asia.” He added that this time, the discussions will focus on issues such as geopolitics, security, trust, climate change, spirituality and humanity. He also noted that CGS has already expanded its activities in the United States and plans to expand to Brussels and Dubai in the future, signalling the organisation’s intention to broaden its international footprint.
At the press conference, CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi said, “The Bay of Bengal Conversation is the largest privately organised international geopolitical conference in South Asia.” He also said that its scope has expanded over time and that efforts are continuing to bring difficult and sensitive issues to the centre of discussion. The conference is designed to provide a platform for frank and forward-looking dialogue on matters that affect the region and beyond, including maritime security, economic connectivity, artificial intelligence, climate change and good governance.
A booklet containing the conference agenda, schedule and list of speakers is available at https://bobc.cgs-bd.com/, and interested parties can collect it from there. The event is expected to generate significant discussion on the strategic and economic future of the Bay of Bengal region, with participants from diverse fields and countries contributing to the debate. The presence of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the wide range of attendees underline the importance the government and international community attach to the conference, and the outcomes are likely to influence policy discussions on regional security, connectivity, technology and climate resilience in the coming months.
