Bangladesh Future Forum 2026
Visioning a Prosperous 2050
Opening Ceremony
Mr. MA Kashem
Chairman
Mutual Group of Industries
Prof. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury
Vice Chancellor
North South University
Dr. Khalilur Rahman
National Security Adviser
Government of Bangladesh
State-Citizen Relations in Bangladesh: Towards a New Political Settlement for 2050
In this opening keynote, Professor Mushtaq Khan will examine Bangladesh’s post-July 2024 transition through the lens of political settlements, arguing that durable reform depends not on new laws alone but on how power, institutions, and social organisations are reconfigured. Drawing on recent events, he will explore how a new state–citizen relationship can be forged by translating popular mobilisation into credible institutions, collective accountability, and a viable political settlement for Bangladesh’s future toward 2050.
Dr. Mushtaq Khan
Professor
SOAS University of London
Prof. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury
Vice Chancellor
North South University
Democratic Governance at a Crossroads: Trust, Institutions, and Accountability in Post-2024 Bangladesh
In his opening keynote, Professor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir will explore the challenges and opportunities facing democratic governance in Bangladesh after the 2024 civic uprising. Drawing on institutional analysis and recent political dynamics, he will reflect on how trust, accountability, and robust institutions can be strengthened to underpin a resilient democratic order going forward.
Dr Mahbub Ullah
Professor
University of Dhaka
Prof. Rounaq Jahan
TBC
Distinguished Fellow
Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman
Executive Chairman
Power and Participation Research Cenrer (PPRC)
Ms. Irene Khan
TBC
Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion
OHCHR - UN Human Rights Office
Dr. Badiul Alam Majumder
Secretary
SHUJAN - Citizens for Good Governance
Dr. Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan
Adviser
Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources
Dr. Rizwan Khair
Associate Professor & Chair
Department of Political Sciences and Sociology, NSU
Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir
Professor
University of Dhaka
Safeguarding Economic Stability in Post-Election Bangladesh: Macroeconomic Risks, Policy Priorities, and Reform Pathways
This plenary will explore how Bangladesh can protect economic stability after the election, identifying urgent macroeconomic risks and the policy priorities needed to restore confidence, prevent crisis, and set the foundation for sustainable growth.
Dr. SM Asif Ehsan
Associate Professor & Chair
Department of Economics, NSU
Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya
TBC
Distinguished Fellow
Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
Dr Fahmida Khatun
Executive Director
Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
Prof. Wahiduddin Mahmud
Adviser
Ministry of Planning
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Mr Syed Nasim Manzur
TBC
Managing Director
Apex Footwear
Dr. Kabir Hassan
Professor
University of New Orleans
Mr. Chowdhury Ashik Bin Harun
TBC
Executive Chairman
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)
ROUNDTABLE: Energy Sector Reform, Accountability and Governance
Focusing on the political economy of Bangladesh’s energy sector, this roundtable will explore how non-transparent procurement, discretionary power, and prolonged lack of accountability have shaped energy governance over the last decade and a half. Participants will unpack the systemic incentives that enabled corruption and rent-seeking, assess their economic and social consequences, and debate reform pathways. The session will prioritize governance solutions—independent oversight, procurement reform, and public accountability—to align the energy sector with national development goals and public interest.
Mr. Jalal Ahmed
TBC
Chairman
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC)
Dr. Ijaz Hossain
TBC
Professor and Dean of Engineering
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)
Dr. Syed Razia Sultana
Member
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC)
Dr. Sakib Bin Amin
Professor
North South University
Prof. Mohammad Tamim
TBC
Vice Chancellor
Independent University Bangladesh (IUB)
Dr. Zahid Hussain
TBC
Former Bangladesh Lead Economist
The World Bank
Dr. Mushtaq Khan
Professor & Member of the Review Committee
Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources
Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem
TBC
Research Director
Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
Prof. Abdul Hasib Chowdhury
TBC
Pro Vice-Chancellor
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)
Mr. Kallol Mustafa
TBC
Sarbojonkotha Journal
Executive Editor
Dr. Rezwan Khan
TBC
Professor Emeritus & Executive Director, IAR
United International University
Dr. Maha Mirza
Lecturer
Jahangirnagar University
ROUNDTABLE: Education–Work Futures in Bangladesh: Generational Transitions, Memory, and Possibility
Focusing on how learning connects to work, dignity, and opportunity, this roundtable brings a futures-oriented perspective to education–work transitions in Bangladesh. By engaging memory, generational experience, and diverse forms of knowledge, the session seeks to inform more grounded, inclusive, and context-sensitive thinking on education and employment reform.
Mr. Shahnawaz Khan Chandan
Assistant Professor
Jagannath University
Dr. Syed Saad Andaleeb
Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Penn Statte Bernard
Dr. Manzoor Ahmed
TBC
Professor Emeritus
BRAC University
Dr. Rubaiya Murshed
TBC
Assistant Professor
University of Dhaka
Dr. Halimur Rashid Khan
Professor
North South University
Dr. Niaz Asadullah
TBC
Professorial Fellow
North South University
Mr. Shakil Ahmed
Phd Candidate
Tamkang University
Dr. Selim Jahan
TBC
Professorial Fellow
BRAC Institute for Governance and Development (BIGD)
ROUNDTABLE: Banking, Finance, and Political Economy Reform: Confronting State Capture, Illicit Finance, and Systemic Risk
Focusing on the political economy of Bangladesh’s banking and financial sector, this roundtable will interrogate how weak oversight, regulatory capture, and systemic loopholes enabled massive NPL accumulation, illicit financial flows, and money laundering over the past decade and a half. The session will prioritize actionable reform pathways—immediate, transitional, and structural—to rebuild institutional credibility, ensure accountability, and secure macroeconomic stability for an elected government after February 2026.
Dr. Mohammad Ayub Miah
TBC
Chairman
Shammalito Islamic Bank
Dr. AKM Waresul Karim
Professor & Dean
School of Business and Economics, NSU
Mr. Syed Abu Naser Bukhtear Ahmed
TBC
Chairman
Agrani Bank
Mr. Zakir Hossain
Deputy Managing Director & CRO
Mercantile Bank PLC
Prof. Mustafizur Rahman
TBC
Distinguished Fellow
Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
Dr. Farooq M. Shiekh
Professor
North South University
Dr. Ezazul Islam
TBC
Director General
Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM)
Dr. Abu Saleh
Professor
North South University
Dr. Prashanta Kumar Banerjee
Professor
Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM)
Reimagining Bengali and Muslim Identities in a Plural Society
This plenary will reflect on how Bengali and Muslim identities can be reimagined in ways that embrace plurality, ethical coexistence, and a more inclusive national future for Bangladesh.
Dr. Dilara Chowdhury
TBC
Professor
Jahangirnagar University
Dr. Nazia Manzoor
Assistant Professor & Chair
Department of English & Modern Languages, NSU
Dr. Sayeed Ferdous
TBC
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Administration)
Bangladesh Open University
Dr. Salimullah Khan
Professor
North South University
Dr. Mohammad Azam
TBC
Professor & Director General
Bangla Academy
Pran–Prokritir Surokkha Beyond Climate Rhetoric: Reclaiming Nature, Livelihoods, and Wellbeing
This panel critically examines how "climate-driven interventions" and GDP-centric development models in Bangladesh often marginalize nature, livelihoods, and ecological integrity. It will delve into critical dialogue on moving beyond climate-centric narratives toward development pathways that protect nature, sustain livelihoods, and prioritize human and ecological wellbeing.
Ar. Marina Tabassum
TBC
Principal Architect
Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA)
Dr. Mohammed Abdul Baten
Assistant Professor
North South University
Dr. Syed Nazrul Islam
Former Chief of Development Research
United Nations (UN)
Dr. Md. Jakariya
Professor and Director
Climate Change and Disaster Resilience Center, NSU
Dr. Mizanur Rahman
TBC
Professor
Jahangirnagar University
Dr. Mukhlesur Rahman
TBC
Executive Director
Center for Natural Resources Studies (CNRS)
Prof. Kazi Khaleed Ashraf
Director General
Bengal Institute
Mr. Sheikh Rokon
TBC
Secretary General
Riverine People
Strategic Autonomy for a Rising Middle Power: Repositioning Bangladesh in an Emerging Global Order
This plenary will examine how Bangladesh can assert strategic autonomy as a rising middle power, navigating great-power competition while advancing its national interests in a rapidly changing global order.
Dr. Mohammed Nuruzzaman
Professor & Research Coordinator
School of Humanities and Social Sciences, NSU
Amb. Humayun Kabir
TBC
President
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI)
Dr. Imtiaz Hussain
TBC
Professor
Independent University Bangladesh (IUB)
Dr ASM Ali Ashraf
Professor & Chairman
University of Dhaka
ROUNDTABLE: Bangladesh in a Fractured World: Strategic Autonomy, Great Power Competition, and Middle-Power Diplomacy
This roundtable will examine Bangladesh’s foreign policy choices amid intensifying great power competition and a fragmented global order. Focusing on strategic autonomy and middle-power diplomacy, the discussion will explore how Bangladesh can navigate geopolitical pressure, safeguard national interests, and expand diplomatic room for manoeuvre in an increasingly multipolar world.
Amb. Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi
TBC
Former High Commissioner
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan
Dr. Shahab Enam Khan
Professor
Jahangirnagar University
Dr. Bhumitra Chakma
Senior Lecturer
University of Hull
Avinash Paliwal
TBC
Reader in International Relations
SOAS University of London
Dr. Abdur Rob Khan
Professor & Treasurer
North South University
Dr. Mahendra P. Lama
TBC
Professor
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Dr. Hua HAN
Professor
HAN Hua
Dr. Cynthia McKinney
Assistant Professor & Director of External Affairs
North South University
Mr. Anu Anwar
Ph.D. Candidate
Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
Dr. Rashed Uz Zaman
Professor
University of Dhaka
Dr. Muhib Rahman
Postdoctoral Fellow
Perry World House, University of Pennsylvenia
Mr. Jon F. Danilowicz
Former Senior FSO
U.S. Departmnet of State
Mr. Michael Kugelman
Resident Senior Fellow
The Atlantic Council
Dr. Sreeradha Datta
Professor
O.P. Jindal Global University
Dr. M Jashim Uddin
Professor & Director
Center for Peace Studies (CPS), NSU
Dr. Nazmus Sakib
Lecturer
University of Kentucky
ROUNDTABLE: Human Rights, Accountability, Truth, Healing, and Transitional Justice: Confronting Past Abuses to Safeguard Democracy
This roundtable will explore how truth-telling, accountability, and rights-based transitional justice can help Bangladesh confront past abuses while fostering national healing. The discussion will examine pathways to restore public trust, prevent democratic backsliding, and embed human rights protections as a foundation for a resilient post-transition democracy.
Hon. Adilur Rahman Khan
Adviser
Ministry of Housing and Public Works
Dr. Shamaruh Mirza
TBC
Founder
SiTara’s Story
Bar. Sara Hossain
TBC
Honorary Executive Director
Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)
Adv. Manzur Al Matin
TBC
Senior Presenter
Channel 24
Ms. Sanjida Islam Tuli
TBC
Coordinator
Maayer Daak (Mother’s Call)
Dr Nabila Idris
Member of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances
Government of Bangladesh
Mr. Nur Khan Liton
TBC
Member of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances
Government of Bangladesh
Bar. Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman
TBC
Human Rights Activist & Politician
Ms. Kalpona Akter
TBC
Executive Director
Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS)
Bar. Tajriyaan Akram Hussain
National Junior Consultant
OHCHR Bangladesh - UN Human Rights Office
Mr. Hummam Quader Chowdhury
TBC
Human Rights Survivor and Politician
Dr. Shahidul Alam
Founder
Pathshala South Asian Media Institute
Mr. Rezaur Rahman Lenin
TBC
Human Rights Researcher
Ms. Rani Yan Yan
TBC
Advisor
Chakma Circle Chief
Mr. ASM Nasiruddin Elan
TBC
Director
Odhikar
ROUNDTABLE: Civil–Military Relations in a Democratic Bangladesh: Constitutional Boundaries, Professionalism, and Civilian Oversight
This roundtable will examine civil–military relations in the context of Bangladesh’s democratic transition, focusing on constitutional boundaries, professional norms, and civilian oversight. The discussion will explore how a balanced, rules-based relationship between civilian authorities and the military can safeguard democracy, deter intervention, and support long-term national stability.
Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf
TBC
Director of Research
South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF)
BG (retd) Hassan Nasir
Ex-Military Officer & Politicisn
Dr. Rashed Uz Zaman
Professor & Senior Fellow
College for Social Sciences and Humanities, UA Ruhr, Germany
Lt Gen Abdul Hafiz
Special Assitant to the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh
Government of Bangladesh
Maj Gen (retd) Fazle Elahi Akbar
TBC
Chairman
FSDS
Dr. Akkas Ahamed
Professor
University of Chittagong
Dr. MA Rashid
Senior Research Fellow
South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG), NSU
Maj Gen (retd) Main Ullah Chowdhury
TBC
Former Deputy Force Commandar
UN Peackeeping Mission
Dr. Lailufar Yasmin
TBC
Professor
University of Dhaka
Mr. Abu Rushd
President
Institute of Strategy and Tactics Research (ISTR)
Ms. Wania Jahangir Khan
TBC
Managing Director
Global Defense Insight
Mr. Syed Shadman Rahi
Executive Director
Bangladesh Institute of Geo-political Studies
From Uprising to Institutional Reform: Translating Reform Commissions into Actionable Pathways for Bangladesh’s Democratic Future
Drawing on reform commission debates and institutional analysis, this session explores how post-uprising aspirations can be embedded in durable governance reforms that prevent democratic backsliding.
Dr. Dilara Chowdhury
TBC
Professor
Jahangirnagar University
Dr. Rizwanul Islam
Professor & Dean
School of Humanities and Social Sciences, NSU
Dr. Farhad Mazhar
TBC
Poet, Philosopher and Writer
UBINIG
Dr. Sk Tawfique M. Haque
Professor & Director
South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG), NSU
Dr. Mahbubur Rahman
Professor & Chair
Department Philosophy and History, NSU
Prof. Ali Riaz
Special Assitant to the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh
Government of Bangladesh
Closing Ceremony and Awards
The Closing Ceremony and Awards will conclude the Forum by synthesizing key deliberations and honoring excellence in scholarship, leadership, and public engagement.
Prof. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury
Vice Chancellor
North South University
Mr. Kaiser Al Aziz
Chairman
Board of Trustees (BOT), NSU
Roundtable Speakers
Distinguished guests joining our sessions.
Dr. Dipak Kumar Mitra
Professor & Dean
School of Health and Life Sciences, NSU
Faruk Wasif
Director General
Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB)
Dr. Iftekhar Zaman
Executive Director
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB)
Dr. Shazzad Hosain
Professor & Dean
School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, NSU