5th Bay of Bengal Conversation Begins in Dhaka Saturday

The fifth edition of the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026 will begin in Dhaka on Saturday, bringing together policymakers, diplomats, security experts, business leaders, academics, journalists and other participants from around the world.

The three-day international conference will be held from October 3 to 5 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman scheduled to inaugurate the event and deliver the opening address.

Organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), the conference is expected to bring together more than 200 speakers, over 300 delegates and around 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries.

Participants will include current and former heads of state, ministers, diplomats, military experts, academics, researchers, journalists, business and investment leaders, human rights advocates, technology specialists and representatives of international development organisations.

CGS President Zillur Rahman announced the commencement of the conference at a media exchange at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon on Friday.

He said the Bay of Bengal is becoming increasingly important in the context of maritime security and regional geopolitics, describing the region as a vital link between South Asia and Southeast Asia.

According to Zillur, the conference will explore challenges and opportunities related to the Bay of Bengal, with this year’s discussions focusing on geopolitics, security, trust, climate change, spirituality and humanity.

The official theme of the 2026 conference is “Fragments • Frontiers • Futures: Navigating Power, Technology and Trust in a World Rewritten.” The programme will examine geopolitical competition, technological disruption, economic realignment, climate challenges, governance and regional cooperation.

CGS Executive Director Parvez Karim Abbasi highlighted the strategic importance of the region, saying the conference has grown in scale over the years while providing a platform to discuss complex and sensitive regional and global issues.

The conference programme will feature high-level plenaries, leadership forums, strategic dialogues, fireside conversations, special interviews and a dedicated Young Leaders Forum. Key areas of discussion will include geopolitics and security, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, trade and connectivity, climate resilience, human security, democracy and governance.

CGS Director Subir Das, Research Assistant Tasfia Rahman and other members of the organisation were also present at the media exchange.