First Meeting of BIMSTEC Track 1.5 Security Dialogue Forum

Inaugural Session: 1000-1030

1000-1005: Welcome Remarks: Maj Gen Alok Deb (Retd) DDG IDSA
1005-1010: Secretary General BIMSTEC speech to be read out by Mr Pankaj Hazarika, Director, BIMSTEC
1015-1030: Inaugural Address by Ms Preeti Saran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India

1030-1045 hrs: High Tea

Session I: Counter Terrorism and Cooperation in Transnational Crimes, Violent Extremism and Radicalisation [1045-1230 hrs]

Chair: Lt Gen Prakash Menon (Retd)

• Ms Prabha Rao (IDSA), “Global Terrorist Trends-Impact on the Countries in the BIMSTEC”
• Maj Gen AKM Abdur Rahman (BIISS, Bangladesh) “Strengthening Regional Cooperation in Curbing Violent Extremism and Terrorism”
• Mr. Nilan Nirunthan, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Colombo “Counter-Terrorism in the BIMSTEC Region: Challenges Ahead”
• Prof Syed Anwar Husain, University of Dhaka, “Violent Extremism and Radicalisation: The Case of Bangladesh”
• Mr. Sing Visespochanakit, (Thailand) 'Counter-terrorism and Transnational Crimes'
• Brig Chula Kodithuwakku (Sri Lanka) Counter terrorism, Transnational Crime, Violent Extremism and Radicalization
• Mr. Mohammad Tofazzel Hossain Miah (Bangladesh)

Session II: Maritime Security Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief [1230-1330]

Chair: Vice Admiral Anup Singh (Retd)

• Commodore Abhay K Singh (Retd), IDSA, “Ensuring Maritime Harmony in the Bay of Bengal- An imperative for BIMSTEC
• Admiral Jayanath Colombage (Retd) (Pathfinder, Sri Lanka) “Geo-Strategic Dynamics and Maritime Security in the Bay of Bengal”
• Amb U Wynn Lwin (Retd), MISIS, (Myanmar), “Maritime Security and HADR”

1330-1415: Lunch

Session III: Cyber Security, Cooperation in Space and Space Technology [1415-1545]

• Dr Arvind Gupta, Former Deputy NSA
• Dr. Anis Pervez (CPD, Bangladesh) “Cyber combat: Needs for regional cooperation”
• Dr. Ajey Lele (IDSA) “An Agenda for BIMSTEC in Outer Space”
• Dr Gulshan Rai “Cooperative Cyber Security within BIMSTEC Framework”

1545-1600: tea

Session IV: Non-traditional Security Challenges [1600-1730]

Chair: Amb Ashok Kantha

• Mr. Kesang Wangdi, (Bhutan)
• Dr Laxmi Dutta Bhatta (ICIMOD, Nepal) "Incentivizing mountain communities for ecosystem services in the Himalayas"
• Zaw Oo, (Myanmar)
• Dr Shailesh Nayak, Former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (India), “Cooperation to Preserve the Himalayan Ecosystem”
• Dr Shankar Sharma, (Nepal) “Promoting Regional Development for Peace”

1730-1800 hrs: Way Forward

Event photographs