A daylong conference titled “Quadrangulated Quandary” was held at the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) on Thursday, July 4, 2019, at the university campus in Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka. The event was organized by the Global Studies and Governance (GSG) Program of the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (SLASS) at IUB.
Though quandary is a universal problem, GSG focuses on Bangladesh to illustrate the problems and prospects. Four tensions challenging policy-makers have been selected for analysis: globalization-localization; information and communications technological revolutions; gender; and the environment. The inaugural ceremony of the Conference took place in the morning. Prof. Milan Pagon, Vice Chancellor (Acting), IUB welcomed the guests to the Conference. Dr. Mashiur Rahman, Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister; Mr. Abul Hasan Chowdhury, Former State Minister, Foreign Affairs; Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue; Mr. A Matin Chowdhury, Chairman, Board of Trustees, IUB and Dr. Imtiaz A. Hussain, Dean (Acting), SLASS, IUB were present in the ceremony and delivered speeches on the occasion. Dr. Niaz Zaman, Advisor, Department of English and Modern Languages, IUB delivered the formal vote of thanks.
The magnitude and excellence of the inaugural ceremony were that the speakers defined four conceptual areas of the Conference – Gender, Globalization-Localization, Environment & ICT from different perspectives with vivid & versatile approaches. This multilayered explanation and classification of issues helped students enormously to realize the fact of taking the charges and preparing themselves to shape up the future of their own being the real change-makers.
Throughout the day, 4 working and an extremely fruitful plenary session were held to clinch the objectives of the Conference. In total, 18 highly credible papers were presented while country’s renowned educationist, scholars, policymakers, civil society leaders, media experts, and professional specialists took part in presenting papers and discussing on various topics & issues.
Among others, Md. Touhid Hossain, Former Foreign Secretary, Government of Bangladesh; Professor Delwar Hossain, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka (DU); Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director, Bangladesh Institute for International Strategic Studies; Dr. Geoffrey MacDonald, Resident Program Director, Bangladesh, International Republican Institute; Prof. Rokunuzzaman, Department of ECE, North South University; Prof. Salma Akther, Department of Sociology, DU; Prof. Sayeda Lasna Kabir, Department of Public Administration, DU; Dr. Marufa Akter, Senior Lecturer, BRAC University; Prof. Firdaus Azim, BRAC University; Ms. Khushi Kabir, Coordinator, Nijera Kori; Prof. Nazrul Islam, Jahangirnagar University; Philip Gain, Executive Director, Society for Environment & Human Development (SEHD); Dr. Ahrar Ahmad, Chairman, Gyantapas Abdur Razzak Biddyapith (GRAB); Prof. Sadeka Halim, DU and Dr. Niloy Ranjan Biswas, Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, DU participated in this high-profile Conference as external resource persons.
Along with external resource persons, Prof. Md. Abdul Khaleque, Dean, SESM; Dr. Nadiruzzaman, Department of Environment Management; Tareq Mahbub, Department of International Business; Kazi Md. Jamshed, Department of International Business; Dr. Mahady Hasan, Department of CSE; Dr. MD Parvez Sattar, Department of Law; Hanif Mahtab, Department of International Business; Prof. Farruk Ahmed, Department of CSE; Dr. Assaduzzaman, Department of Law and Dr. Md. Abdul Awal Khan, Department of Law at IUB were also present in the event, presented papers, chaired sessions, and took part in the various discussion.
Members from the faculty and administration, students and distinguished guests witnessed the daylong conference enthusiastically.
