Bangladesh aims to choose the right path amid global shifts: Touhid
Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain today said Bangladesh will act as an active and responsible sovereign player during global geopolitical realignments. "In moments of realignment, states are tempted to pick sides, but we should first pick the right course," he said while speaking at the inaugural session of the "Bay of Bengal Conversation 2025" organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at a city hotel.
The adviser said Bangladesh would engage confidently in an evolving international order, prioritising national interest and regional stability. "Bangladesh chooses to be an active, sovereign, and responsible player. We will engage robustly, speak firmly when needed, and partner productively always with an eye on national interest and regional stability," he said.
Referring to the shifting architecture of power, he emphasised that Bangladesh's partnerships must yield tangible results while preserving sovereignty. The Bay of Bengal, he noted, is emerging as a strategic fulcrum where Bangladesh intends to act confidently rather than serve as a passive corridor.
The adviser, outlining the challenges of global instability-from Ukraine and Gaza to Sudan and Myanmar-said the failures of crisis-management mechanisms demand stronger multilateral and regional institutions capable of delivering real outcomes. Bangladesh's role in sheltering forcibly displaced Rohingyas and contributing to UN peace missions, he added, underscores the nation's commitment to humanitarian responsibility.
On the weaponisation of information, he cautioned that misinformation, deepfakes and AI-driven manipulation are reshaping diplomacy and governance. He said Bangladesh aims to protect its information space while promoting regulatory frameworks that uphold both security and rights. Addressing economic realignment, he said global supply chains, sanctions and de-risking require Bangladesh to diversify and strengthen regional cooperation.
He called for connectivity and partnerships rooted in "mutual opportunity and resilience," highlighting the enormous economic potential of the Bay of Bengal. The adviser also underscored climate-linked vulnerabilities, including rising seas and salinity intrusion. He urged littoral states to build cooperative frameworks, share technology and design climate-resilient security and development strategies.
He thanked the Centre for Governance Studies for hosting the forum and described the platform as essential for frank dialogue at a time of geopolitical uncertainty. Chief Justice of Bangladesh Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed spoke as the inaugural speaker, while the theme for this year's Bay of Bengal Conversation is "Rivals, Ruptures, Realignments." This year, the conference will centre 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 we live in today.
