The Centre for South Asian Studies (C-SAS) at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) hosted a Fireside Chat featuring Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, executive director of the Centre for Alternatives and former professor of International Relations, University of Dhaka.
The event titled “South Asia and the great game: How global power dynamics affect Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan” was held on Sunday at Bookworm Bangladesh.
The program began with opening remarks by Professor Imran Rahman, vice-chancellor of ULAB.
In his talk, Dr Imtiaz Ahmed traced South Asia’s trajectory through the Cold War, showing how decolonization, Soviet-era communism, and globalization left a lasting imprint on the foreign policies of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.
He outlined how major global powers continue to shape regional stability and stressed that Bangladesh must consolidate governance to attract investment and navigate external pressures by adopting a Bangladesh-first foreign policy, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.
Pointing to the country’s tariff structure, he noted its competitiveness within peer nations and urged against panic in response to international shifts.
The session concluded with an engaged Q&A, where Dr Imtiaz addressed audience questions on Bangladesh’s strategic positioning in a multipolar world. The discussion was moderated by Sajid Amit.
