Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) and Cosmos Foundation Bangladesh have signed a MoU to jointly host a series of roundtable discussions on issues of national, regional and international interests. President of BIPSS Major General ANM Muniruzzman (retd) and Founder of Cosmos Group Enayetullah Khan recently signed the cooperation agreement representing their respective side. The BIPSS-Cosmos deal will focus on cooperation, the mutual exchange of information, the improvement of events, seminars, research and academic programmes. Also read: 'BRAVEHEART’: Gallery Cosmos pays rich artistic tribute to Bangabandhu BIPSS is a non-party, non-profit organization and independent think tank devoted to studying peace and security issues related to South and Southeast Asia. Cosmos Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Cosmos Group that provides strategic insights and policy solutions for Bangladesh’s journey toward a better future. Also read: Bangladesh must ensure strategic balance amid new tensions: BIPSS president

Speakers at a roundtable have said Bangladesh remains in a good position with workable human resources, food production and geographical location but laid emphasis on enhancing energy exploration along with a diversified policy for conventional and renewable. But despite these advantages, the country has fallen backward in the last one and half a decade in its own energy exploration due to lack of a sustainable policy, they said. The experts raised the issues at the roundtable titled “A World in Turmoil: The Fallout from the Ukraine Conflict” jointly organized by Cosmos Foundation and Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) at a city hotel on Wednesday. Chairman of Cosmos Foundation Enayetullah Khan and President of BIPSS Major General (Retd) ANM Muniruzzaman moderated the discussion. Former foreign secretary Md Touhid Hossain, assistant professor, department of international relations, Bangladesh University of Professional (BUP) Umme Salma Tarin and assistant professor, department of economics, East West University Parvez Karim Abbasi spoke as panelists.

The 6th edition of Cosmos Art Echo, an art talk event of Cosmos Atelier71, is set to be held on Thursday evening. Eminent Artist Kanak Chanpa Chakma will join the live event with the topic ‘Journey Through Roots' at 7 pm. Born and raised in the beautiful hill tracts of Rangamati, Kanak Chanpa Chakma is a visual artist based in Dhaka. She mainly works with acrylic, oil and charcoal on canvas, portraying the struggling lives of the indigenous community of Bangladesh and the endless sufferings of women. Kanak Chanpa has received numerous national and international awards for her works, including Best Woman Artist of the XXI Century, Florida, USA (2001), Best Painting National Award, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (2002) and Olympic Fine Arts Gold Medal, Beijing, China (2008). She has devoted much of her life rescuing animals, and is engaged in organisations focused on animal welfare, women and deprived communities in Bangladesh.

The 5th edition of Cosmos Art Echo,  an art talk programme organized by Cosmos Atelier71, will be held on Wednesday.

The second annual membership programme of Cosmos Atelier71, a printmaking studio with an overarching vision to serve art in Bangladesh, was  launched Saturday through an orientation welcoming 71 new members for the 2020 calendar year.