North South University (NSU) hosts the China–Bangladesh Partnership Forum – Dhaka Dialogue on its campus on Tuesday, 28 January 2026, bringing together policymakers, academics, business leaders, investors, and cultural figures to discuss the future outlook of the China–Bangladesh partnership. The participants, including investors, social and cultural leaders, academics, and youth representatives, attended the program, a press release said.
The forum was attended by a distinguished group of guests, including Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Honorable Advisor to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of Bangladesh; Shahidul Alam, Founder, Drik Picture Library & Board Member, China Bangladesh Partnership Forum; Benajir Ahmed, Member & Former Chairman of Board of Trustees, North South University; Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of North South University; Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar, Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University; Professor Anwar Hossain, Advisor & Dean (IC), Faculty of Business Administration, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB); Sohel Ahmed, Chief Executive of WePOWER, BNC; Tajdin Hassan, Chief Business Officer of The Daily Star; Professor Farhana Ferdousi, Associate Professor and Director at Southeast Business School, Southeast University; Osman Dhali, Chief Operating Officer of YY Ventures; Daniel Afzalur Rahman, Director of Production at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy; Faisal Rahman, Managing Director of Parallel 2 Stairs; and Alex Wang, Secretary-General of the China–Bangladesh Partnership Forum along with investors, business leaders, academics, cultural figures, and youth representatives from across the country.
In his welcome address, Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of North South University, highlighted NSU’s commitment to fostering meaningful international dialogue and academic diplomacy. He said, “Bangladesh and China have a long trade and cultural relationship. We need to create a strong bridge between China and Bangladesh by enhancing business communication and strengthening a collaborative ecosystem. It opens up significant opportunities for Bangladesh’s future growth. North South University has strong academic partnerships with China, and we are proud to host South Asia’s first Confucius Institute, which reflects our commitment to academic and cultural exchange.”
Benajir Ahmed, Member & Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, NSU, said, “Bangladesh and China must work closely to meet the demands of international business. China is one of the main suppliers for Bangladesh’s garment industry and also offers a vast market with strong purchasing capacity. This presents a very good opportunity for Bangladesh to expand business with China.”
Shahidul Alam, Founder, Drik Picture Library, stated, “Bangladesh and China share a deep cultural connection. We need systematic skills, not just celebrations, focusing on data-sharing partnerships, technology transfer, and healthy collaboration. It should combine Chinese discipline with the Bangladeshi spirit of freedom.”
Hon’ble Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki emphasized the importance of cultural understanding alongside economic cooperation. He said, “Culture is one of the strongest foundations for building relationships between two nations. However, we have not yet fully exported the best of our cultural assets. Through proper curation of music, food, films, and other creative expressions, we can build stronger bridges between Bangladesh and China and take this relationship to the next level.”
Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar, Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University, said, “From a geopolitical perspective, understanding each other is essential to building a strong partnership between Bangladesh and China. We must take advantage of emerging opportunities, particularly in the creation and advancement of knowledge, where academic collaboration can play a vital role in strengthening this partnership.”
Professor Anwar Hossain, Advisor & Dean (IC), Faculty of Business Administration, AIUB, said, “Strong partnerships are built not only on trade and investment, but also on cultural and academic exchange and mutual respect. Private universities in Bangladesh can contribute significantly to academic development, artificial intelligence research, knowledge sharing, and strengthening the Bangladesh–China relationship.”
A panel discussion titled “Building a Platform for China–Bangladesh Partnership” followed, featuring leaders from the private sector, media, academia, and entrepreneurship. Panelists discussed investment prospects, innovation, digital transformation, and the role of institutions in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.
Through hosting the China–Bangladesh Partnership Forum, North South University reaffirmed its role as a leading academic institution committed to international engagement, policy dialogue, and contributing to national and regional development through knowledge-based initiatives. The session was moderated by Alex Wang, Secretary-General of the China–Bangladesh Partnership Forum.
