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Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) , in association with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, USA, has launched a major new research project on the security impact of climate change on Bangladesh and its regional  neighborhood, specifically India, Nepal and the Maldives. The seminal project will examine the latest scientifically acceptable prognostications of climate change affecting Bangladesh, focusing on asset losses - especially loss of land and livelihood to rising sea levels, saline intrusions, periodic surge flooding, environmental damage, and the extent and intensity of resultant internal displacement and potential migration.

The project's findings and recommendations will be launched at an international conference at the conclusion of the study.

Non-traditional security issues are gaining prominence all over the world. Bangladesh is no exception in this regard. Various non-traditional security threats like climate change, sea level rise, migration of people etc. are prominent in Bangladesh. Along with these threats another emerging threat posed to Bangladesh is arsenic. Arsenicosis, arsenic poisoning, has emerged as a destabilizing factor in the society in particular and to the state in general. The present article looks at the arsenic poisoning from a security standpoint and analyses its implications to national security of Bangladesh.

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President  BIPSS  will  speak  at  Climate, Governance  and  Resilience Roundtable in Kathmandu on 3rd September 2010.He has been invited by International Alert UK to the third dialogue on climate change, conflict and fragility. Representatives  from the South Asia Network  on Security and  Climate  Change  (SANSAC)  will  present  new case studies from across the region to  ground the discussion  in empirical  knowledge on the interaction between climate change, fragility and security at the State level.

President   BIPSS  will  also  speak  at   Sangam  Institute  for  Policy Analysis  and  Strategic Studies  in  Kathmandu, Nepal on  4th September 2010.  He  will  deliver a  presentation on “Transnational Security: The Challenge for Nation States”.

On fifth anniversary of serial blasts by the activists of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)across the country on August 17, 2005 President BIPSS Major General ANM Muniruzzaman and political analyst Mizanur Rahman Shelly were invited as discussants at BBC Dhaka studio to discuss how far Islamist extremism can expand in democratic Bangladesh.

BIPSS President was interviewed by BBC Bangla and Voice of America (VOA) on the subject:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bengali/multimedia/2010/08/100817_mb_jmb_disco.shtml

http://www1.voanews.com/bangla/news/terrorism-in-bangladesh-increasing-100921599.html

The twenty-first century brings with it an increasingly complex and even more urgent security challenges and the transnational security threat is the new facet of such security challenges. Bangladesh, located in close proximity to China and India- two would be superpowers-, poised to become either a thriving democracy or a failed state, has been facing burgeoning challenges from transnational security elements including terrorism, arms and drug smuggling, environmental challenges and so on. But, because of its economic and political vulnerability, Bangladesh cannot face-off such challenges alone. Besides, due to its geo-strategic location, there is a danger that such threats can destabilize the region as a whole. Keeping this in mind, a concerted effort needs to be taken across the region so that a common platform can be created to address the transnational security issues.

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President BIPSS, Major General Muniruzzaman (Retd). was invited to speak at the Asia Pacific Programme for Senior  Military Officers (APPMSO) organised  by the  S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore from 05-10 August ‘10. General Munir was invited to speak at a Panel on ‘Terrorism in South and South East Asia’. In addition to APPSMO, General Munir also spoke at a Special Workshop titled ‘Fighting Small Wars in the 21^st Century’ organised jointly by the Singapore Armed Forces – NTU Academy and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. 

Presentation

President BIPSS, Major General ANM Muniruzzaman (Retd.) presented a lecture on “Bangladesh –GCC Relations –A Future Outlook” at the Bahrain Centre of Studies & Research (BCSR) on 9^th June, 2010.

BIPSS President addressed the event as a key note speaker. The presentation highlighted the strong ties of Bangladesh with the GCC countries as potential partner because of religious, historical and cultural common denominators.

The session attended by eminent subject experts, analysts, diplomats, academia, journalists, and cross–section of intelligentsia to discuss about Bangladesh’s relation with the GCC member states.

BIPSS and BCSR, Bahrain Royal Chartered Think Tank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU will create a platform for cooperation on various levels including joint organisation of symposia, lectures as well as research on major international and regional issues.

President BIPSS, Major General ANM Muniruzzaman (Retd.) joined at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the 9th IISS Asia Security Summit, in Singapore from 4–6 June 2010.

BIPSS President delivered the talk on the following theme: “Reassessing the Security Challenges of Climate Change”. The presentation of the talk touched upon the following: Security implications of climate change, secondary threats of climate change including possible increase in the number of weak and fragile states, health risks, threat to global economic development and food crisis as well as cultural threat.

The dialogue brought together defence and national security establishments of 28 states, as well as number of observer countries. In the current and future Asia Pacific security landscape the Shangri-La Dialogue holds a significant place for policy options.