North South University’s (NSU) Office of External Affairs, School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS), Department of Law, and North South University Law and Mooting Society organised a talk on “Singapore’s Experience and Role in International Law” on 21 April, 2026, a press release said.
The session was held at the NSU Syndicate Hall as part of the NSU SHSS Distinguished Lecture Series. The Keynote Speaker was H.E. Mitchel Lee, Charge d’Affaires, High Commission of the Republic of Singapore in Dhaka. The session was chaired by Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, the Honorable Vice Chancellor at NSU, a remarks were provided by the Special Guest Aziz Al Kaiser, the Honorable Chairman, Board of Trustees at NSU, and the vote of thanks was provided by Professor Nasar U. Ahmed, the Honorable Pro-Vice Chancellor at NSU.
Professor Md. Rizwanul Islam, Dean of the SHSS at NSU, commenced the discussion with the opening remarks, where he expressed gratitude to the distinguished guest for gracing the occasion with his presence. He mentioned that Singapore was successful as a small city-state as it had a strong rule of law. He cited the example of Singapore’s strong intellectual property rights protection under law which allowed it to attract foreign investments. He also highlighted that despite being a relatively young nation, it had developed a good reputation in international law as an arbitration and mediation hub.
In his thought-provoking speech, H.E. Mitchel Lee shared why international law remains relevant not just to small states but also to powerful states as well. Lee explained how despite the challenges brought by a more turbulent world today, the actions of both big and small states are still guided by international law. He also shared Singapore’s role in shaping the landmark UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the related Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. He elaborated on how BBNJ champions the sustainable management of marine biodiversity. On UNCLOS, he highlighted the principle-based approach that Singapore has adopted with regard to proposals to impose ‘tolls’ for safe passage through the Straits of Hormuz. He also spoke about Singapore’s role in the WTO and other international trade groupings. He emphasized that by observing international law and forging coalitions, geographically small states may play a critical role in shaping global affairs.
To round up the lecture, Aziz Al Kaiser elaborated that the success of Singapore serves as a global benchmark for how a nation can leverage legal excellence and strategic diplomacy to facilitate unparalleled economic growth and international trust.
Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury highlighted Singapore’s global leadership in finance, trade, and international investment, noting that its success is built on a foundation of discipline, efficiency, and transparency.
Professor Nasar U. Ahmed provided the vote of thanks and observed that the exchange of ideas encouraged a better international understanding and positive diplomatic relations for Bangladesh and Singapore as part of a mutually beneficial partnership.
During the Q&A session, faculty members and students engaged with the guest speaker on Singapore’s specific policy measures used to build up Singapore’s global standing in the world despite its size. There were also questions on how Singapore has managed to apply international law in settling maritime boundary disputes in an amicable way and to also resolve other transboundary issues like the haze problem in Southeast Asia. The event concluded with a Crest Handover Ceremony, presenting the esteemed guest with a token of appreciation.
