North South University (NSU) hosts Lutfey Siddiqi’s Public Lecture titled “Opportunities Beyond the Comfort Zone: Bangladesh from a Global Perspective” today (Wednesday) at the NSU Audi 801, a press release said.
Lutfey Siddiqi, Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, attended the program as the Keynote Speaker. Benajir Ahmed, Founder Life Member and former Chairman, Board of Trustees, NSU, graced the event as the Chief Guest. The session was chaired by Professor Abdur Rob Khan, Treasurer & Pro Vice-Chancellor (IC), NSU. Professor Sk. Tawfique M. Haque, Director, South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG), NSU, delivered the welcome address.
The program began with a recitation from the Quran, followed by the national anthem. Professor Sk. Tawfique M. Haque welcomed the attendees of the event and said, “How many of us are stepping out of our own comfort zones? Many of us like to remain comfortable, but real growth only happens when we dare to explore, take risks, and examine the unknown. This is what today’s lecture is about.”
In his lecture, Lutfey Siddiqi outlined five key global trends- deglobalization, digitalization, decarbonization, demographics, and debt. He mentioned disruptions in globalization, such as rising tariffs, and how they could create opportunities for countries like Bangladesh, given the right leadership and guidance. On digitalization, he said, “In the future, AI will either replace your job or enhance your job. Either way, there will be an effect of AI. We need a strategy for jobs that we haven’t had before, which will take us out of our comfort zone.”
Siddiqi also highlighted Bangladesh’s demographic advantage, describing its youth-driven population as a critical but time-sensitive resource. “We have one of the best demographic ratios in the world. This is the time when we should invest in the income for young people.” He stated that Bangladesh should focus on optimizing land and capital so that it can make optimal use of its high-quality labor force. Addressing climate concerns, he acknowledged Bangladesh’s strong emphasis on adaptation but called for greater attention to carbon emissions. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of private sector investment to manage national debt and ensure sustainable growth.
Benajir Ahmed discussed Bangladesh’s transition from a Low-Income to a Middle-Income Economy. He mentioned that the country’s current zero-tariff policy with the EU will remain in effect after the transition. He said, “Right now, there is a comfortable feeling with the zero tariffs, which has allowed us to compete with other competitors. However, in the future, we will have to prepare beyond our comfort zones so that we can meet emerging challenges. I believe that the young generation will take up this opportunity and build Bangladesh to new heights.”
Session Chair Professor Abdur Rob Khan delivered the closing remarks. He said, “I thank you all for your participation in this session. We need to think about our problems like this- constructive, structured thinking that will lead us somewhere. This is why this lecture was very important.”
