I would like to greet you all through this

newsletter that highlights the activities of BEI

during the period of April to June 2016.

BEI has conducted several activities like

research, workshops, seminars and advocacy

works under various projects and programs.

BEI has provided a platform for regular

dialogues between the government, the private

sector, development partners, and other

relevant stakeholders on a whole range of

subjects including Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility,

E-Governance, Foreign Policy and Security, Regional and Economic

Cooperation, Regulatory and Economic Reforms, Public Private Partnership

and Trade, Investment and Environmental Sustainability. BEI, realizing the

importance of peace and stability in the country for a healthy business and

investment climate, has undertaken a number of projects on security

related issues. Our recent advocacy and research initiatives have

particularly focused on Counter Terrorism, Counter Radicalization and

National Security in Bangladesh.

In addition, BEI has placed great emphasis on strengthening relations,

facilitating trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar for deepening regional

cooperation in South East Asia and focusing on the economic development

of Bangladesh. As Bangladesh is facing a number of challenges, BEI is

committed to making a contribution in mitigating these by promoting

greater co-operation between the government and the private sector in the

country

I hope the information in the newsletter would be of assistance to you and

we look forward to keeping you informed about BEI’s future activities.

Farooq Sobhan

President

Bangladesh Enterprise Institute

Bangladesh Enterprise Institute

Newsletter April– June 2016

Message from the President Inside this issue:

BEI-VIF Roundtable

Discussion on Bangladesh India

Security & Economic

Cooperation

2

BEI Delegates

Attended the

Strategic Studies

Summit in Ankara,

Turkey

3

BEI Meeting with the Dean of Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies

4

BEI Meeting with a Visiting US State Department Team

4

Track II Dialogue on Bangladesh-

Myanmar Relations

5

Key note speech of BEI Vice

President at a national

consultation on “Preventing

Violent Extremism

Through Community

Engagement”

6

BEI Profile

BEI is an independent and non-profit research centre which has given special importance to

the growth and development of the private sector. The institute promotes and articulates

issues of importance to the private sector and seeks to influence policy to initiate measures

crucial to the development of a market oriented economy, as well as sustainable growth of

trade, commerce and industry. The institute, on a more recent time frame, has also been

focusing significantly on security related issues. To achieve these goals, BEI organizes

regular consultations, dialogues, seminars and workshops, conducts research, undertakes

surveys, and formulates policy recommendations for the consideration of the government

and other stakeholders.

BEI-VIF Roundtable Discussion on

Bangladesh India Security & Economic Cooperation

BEI-VIF Roundtable Discussion on ‘Bangladesh-India Security and Economic Cooperation’ was held on

21 April 2016 at the BEXIMCO office. Mr. Salman F Rahman, Chairman of the Board of Governors of BEI

presided over the roundtable discussion.

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BEI Delegates Attended the Strategic Studies Summit in Ankara, Turkey

Amb. Humayun Kabir, Vice President, Mr. Faiz Sobhan, Research Director, Mr. Shahab Enam Khan, Research Director and Mr. Parvez Karim Abbasi, Senior Research Fellow from BEI attended the Strategic Studies Summit NESA Region in 2020, 31 March – 3 April 2016, Ankara, Turkey. Through the Summit, BEI had gotten the opportunity to get together with 133 participants from 77 different organizations across 35 countries of the world. The Summit was entitled as “The NESA Region in 2020’ focusing on identifying pressing security concerns in the NESA (Near East South Asian) region and analyzing strategic changes useful for the upcoming future of the region. Through a combination of plenary and working group sessions, BEI participated in multiple avenues for the exchange of ideas within the policy and academic communities and explored the changing nature of the global political and economic system as well as emphasized on the necessity of global strategy to tackle

shared security challenges.

On April 02, the third plenary of the summit was convened on “ISIS and Radicalism in the NESA Region.” Mr. Shahab Enam Khan, Research Director of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI)); along with researchers from Afghanistan, Jordan and Turkey discussed the roots of extremism in their respective countries. He agreed with them on the fact that all religions experience some form of

radicalization. He also mentioned about the need for more cooperation between all countries to defeat extremist groups. On the April 03, the fourth plenary focused on the “Emerging Economic Landscape in the NESA Region” focusing on the key changes in the global energy markets, especially the collapse of oil prices since June 2014 has effected economic development in many countries. Mr. Parvez Abbasi, Senior Research Fellow of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI)) along with

researchers from Jordan and Turkey; Kyrgyzstan and the United States discussed the impact of the global recession, low oil prices, and demographic shifts on their respective countries and regions. Mr. Abbasi also emphasized the need for structural reform and broad economic diversification, empowerment of the private sector, encouragement for foreign investment, and reduction of the role of the state in the economic system. However, in four sessions of South Asian working group panel in the Summit, BEI had participated on specific topics of regional interest (China, Iran, so-called “ISIS,” and maritime security.

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BEI Meeting with the Dean of Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies

BEI met with the Dean of Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies. The meeting took place on 20 April, 2016 at the BEI. He discussed about several security issues of mutual concerns with the President of BEI Amb. Farooq Sobhan and other senior BEI officials.

BEI Meeting with a Visiting US State Department Team

BEI met with a visiting delegation of US State Department to Bangladesh in Dhaka. The meeting took place on 17 May, 2016 at the BEI conference room. The team was lead by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kimberly Field. The Team discussed several security issues on the meeting. On behalf of the BEI, Honorable Vice President Amb. M. Humayun Kabir, Research Director Faiz Sobhan and other fellow researchers attended the meeting.

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Track II Dialogue on Bangladesh-Myanmar Relations

Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) organized a Track II Dialogue on Bangladesh-Myanmar Relations on 10-11 May 2016 in an association with Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS) in Hotel Lakeshore, Dhaka. In his opening remarks, BEI Vice President Amb. M. Humayun Kabir discussed about the democratic transition in Myanmar which had created a hope for Bangladesh to form a new structure of bilateral cooperation. He also discussed about emerging economic development of two countries by capitalizing inter-regional, bilateral and regional settings. Mr. Faiz Sobhan, research director of BEI, termed Bangladesh as a lucrative place for FDI in the Asian region for its being a gateway for the Asian trade and geographical location. Mr. Sobhan also mentioned about current government’s initiatives to strengthen the parliamentary democracy through reforming constitutional bodies, establishing partnership with civil society & NGOs and enhancing freedom to the media. Shahab Enam Khan, another research director of BEI, discussed about border management, illicit arms, narcotics, human trafficking, refugee movements, maritime security & conventional security complex between Bangladesh & Myanmar. Therefore, Mr. Khan recommended for close cooperation between Bangladesh and Myanmar to increase the capabilities of both countries to apprehend criminal activities, increase surveillance, and establish a monitoring system. He acknowledged that Arakan Army and Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) had become a major security concern in the poorly policed border areas of these countries due to lack of integrated border management system with infrastructural support . He emphasized on establishing a sense of mutual trust & co-ordination and resolving information and intelligence gaps between these two nations.

H.E. Mr. Myo Myint Than, Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh, highlighted the importance of undertaking this type of track II level dialogue which immensely contributes to mutual understanding on each other's issues. Dr. Delwar Hossain, Professor of University of Dhaka; Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed, Professor of University of Dhaka; Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Additional Research Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Ms. Franziska Korn, country director of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES); Senior Officials of MISIS also attended the program.

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Key note speech of BEI Vice President at a national consultation on “Preventing Violent Extremism Through Community Engagement”

BEI Vice President Amb. Humayun Kabirm gave a keynote speech at a national consultation, entitled, ‘Preventing Violent Extremism through Community Engagement’ organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies(BIISS) at BIISS Auditorium on 19 April, 2016. He described various aspects of community engagement and its implication in preventing violent extremism. The honorable state minister for foreign affairs of Bangladesh, Mr. Md. Shahriar Alam, MP made the opening remarks at the event .

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