Dhaka : The School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) at North South University (NSU) organized a talk on ‘The Security Code for This Century: Priorities for a New Era’ on 17 July 2025, according to a press release.
The session was held at the NSU Syndicate Hall as part of the NSU SHSS Distinguished Lecture Series. The keynote speaker was Major General A N M Muniruzzaman (Retd.), President of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS). The session was chaired by Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, the Honorable Vice Chancellor at NSU, and the concluding observations were provided by the moderator, Professor Abdur Rob Khan, the Honorable Treasurer Pro-Vice Chancellor (In-charge) 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. Additionally, he pointed out the critical importance of understanding and adapting to the dynamic concept of security with a holistic approach in the 21 st century. Major General A N M Muniruzzaman (Retd.) began by stating that a new security code for the 21 st century requires a fundamental shift in how we conceive of and address threats. He urged that moving beyond traditional state-centric, military-focused approaches to a more comprehensive, interconnected, and adaptive framework is essential. This involves a fusion of technology and warfighting, emphasizing proactive prevention through predictive models and continuous learning. Key aspects include software-defined open architectures for rapid upgrades, and interoperability through civilian-military fusion and global collaboration, leading to an information overload of misinformation, bringing us to new heights of vulnerability. He further emphasized human-centric security to abide by ethical use of technology, fostering public trust. During the Q&A session, faculty members engaged with the guest speaker on the role of advanced technologies like AI/ML, robotics, and quantum computing in modern defense, how emerging modern systems are enabling new forms of warfare, the rise of paradigms such as multi-domain, hybrid, and cognitive warfare, and the necessity of network-centric warfare (JADC2) and advanced defense systems. They also criticized the complexities and lack of cyberspace investments and implementation in the context of Bangladesh. Professor Abdur Rob Khan observed that the exchange of ideas encouraged a better understanding of the complex interplay between technology, strategy, and human factors in shaping the future of security. Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury concluded the session by highlighting the imperative for academic institutions to contribute to the discourse on national and international security, commending the timely and insightful discussion. He further added how there are gaps in the integration of AI in medical systems, defense, and educational institutions in Bangladesh, raising national security concerns. The memorable event concluded with a Crest Handover Ceremony, honoring the esteemed guest with a token of appreciation.
