The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) has announced that the fifth edition of the Bay of Bengal Conversation (BoBC) will be held from October 3 to 5, 2026, at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate the conference and deliver the opening address before an audience comprising policymakers, diplomats, security experts, business leaders, academics, journalists, civil society representatives, and emerging leaders from across the world, CGS said in a media statement on Saturday.
The theme of this year's conversation is “Fragments • Frontiers • Futures: Navigating Power, Technology and Trust in a World Rewritten.”
Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026 will explore the profound transformations reshaping the international landscape, including geopolitical competition, technological disruption, economic realignment, climate challenges, and the growing importance of trust, governance, and resilience in an increasingly interconnected world.
The organizers expect participation from more than 100 countries and approximately 200 speakers, making BoBC 2026 one of the largest international strategic dialogue platforms ever hosted in Bangladesh.
The three-day conference will feature high-level plenaries, leadership forums, strategic dialogues, fireside conversations, special interviews, and a dedicated Young Leaders Forum.
Discussions will focus on geopolitics and security, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, trade and connectivity, climate resilience and human security, democracy and governance, and the growing strategic importance of the Bay of Bengal region.
This year's conference will be organized around five flagship pillars:
* Power in Transition: Geopolitics, Security and Strategic Competition
* The Technology Frontier: AI, Cyber Space and Information Power
* The New Economic Geography: Trade, Connectivity and Strategic Growth
* Climate, Resilience and Human Security
* Trust, Democracy and the Future of Governance
The conference will also feature several signature platforms, including the Prime Minister's Address, the Bay of Bengal Lecture, Leadership Forums, and the conference's annual flagship discussion, "Why the Bay Matters to the World."
Since its inception, the Bay of Bengal Conversation has evolved into a unique international platform bringing together leaders, thinkers, practitioners, and institutions from across regions and sectors to discuss some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities of our time.
As global dynamics continue to evolve, the Bay of Bengal is emerging as one of the world's most consequential strategic regions, connecting South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the wider Indo-Pacific. Through dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, BoBC 2026 aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the forces shaping the future of the region and the world.