A lecture titled “From Malé to Dhaka: Strengthening Bangladesh-Maldives Bilateral Cooperation” was held today in the capital.  Photo: Collected

DHAKA, April 10, 2025 (BSS) – Speakers at a lecture session today underlined the need for enhancing collaboration between Bangladesh and Maldives to address common challenges of the two South Asian nations.  

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the lecture under its Country Lecture Series (CLS) titled “From Malé to Dhaka: Strengthening Bangladesh-Maldives Bilateral Cooperation” at its auditorium in the capital.  

Speakers brought in various aspects of Bangladesh-Maldives ties, shed light on their evolution, current status, how to further broaden the ties, existing and potential areas of cooperation, future directions and other important issues. 

Mutual trade received substantial focus in the lecture while there were discussions on addressing common vulnerabilities like climate change risks, geopolitical instability, economic challenges, shifts in regional and global order. 

Maldives High Commissioner to Bangladesh Shiuneen Rasheed was the distinguished guest speaker at the event while BIISS Director General Major General Iftekhar Anis delivered the welcome address. 

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment ministry’s senior secretary Dr. Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan was the special guest at the lecture. 

Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka Md Obaidul Haque delivered a presentation on Bangladesh-Maldives Relations: Revisiting Bilateral Relations and Avenues for Cooperation. 

BIISS chairman Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker chaired and wrapped the session up with some remarks.

Senior officials from different ministries of Bangladesh, foreign diplomatic missions, media, businesspeople, teachers and students from various universities, researchers, representatives from various think tanks, international organisations, enthusiastically participated in the lecture.