In the evolving landscape of international affairs where global dialogue is shifting towards soft power and non-governmental channels, South Asia is revealing itself as the center of diplomatic discussions. At the heart of this evolution is the Bay of Bengal Conversation (BOBC), a yearly conference hosted in Dhaka that has expanded its international footprint across diplomatic, journalistic, and policy circles. To fully grasp the growth of influence of this conference and how non-governmental policy organizations are shaping regional dialogue, Social News Italy spoke with Zain Khan, TV Host and Editor of Diplomatic Affairs at the Minute Mirror Newspaper. Having participated in Bay of Bengal Conversation 2025 as a panelist speaker and moderator, Khan offered key insights into why the event’s motto —”All roads lead to Dhaka”—is proving to be far more than just ambitious branding.
Recalling on his experiences at the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2025, Khan emphasized on how effectively the event had functioned as an instrument of Track-2 diplomacy by blending high-level policy discussions with cultural diplomacy. “Having participated in the 2025 conference as both a speaker and moderator, I observed firsthand how the event functions as a powerful platform for soft power,” Khan claimed during our interview. “While the global participation of the event was impressive, what proved more fascinating was how the event introduced Bangladesh’s rich hospitality, food, and cultural heritage to international guests. When thought leaders, political leaders, and diplomats gather in Dhaka not only to present their debates on regional issues but to experience the rich culture of Bangladesh, it projects a far more nuanced form of international engagement,” Khan explained.
During the Bay of Bengal Conversation in 2025, Khan contributed through participation in two sessions. As a speaker on a panel titled “The Human Century: Building a Moral Economy for a Planet in Peril”—alongside prominent international figures including Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed, Kallol Bhattacherjee, Constantino Xavier, and Nishan de Mel—Khan argued that a Liberal World Order remains the most viable methodology to achieve a “moral” economy, emphasizing that hard competitive realism fails to account for essential moral imperatives. Additionally, Khan also moderated an important session “The Truth in Exile – Journalism and the Fight for Credibility,” where he led a critical dialogue on the integrity of the media alongside international journalists including Carolina Chimoy, Leo Wigger, and Shamsuddoza Sajen.
Looking forward to the 5th edition of the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026 —Khan emphasized that the scale and scope surrounding the conference have reached unprecedented levels for South Asia. Organized through the Bangladesh-based think tank Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), and led by its President, prominent TV host and journalist Zillur Rahman, the BOBC 2026 event opens with the inaugural address by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, which signals political endorsement for the Track-2 dialogue. Following a massive lineup of over 1000 participants, 200 speakers, and 300 delegates representing more than 100 countries, the three-day conference addresses a multifaceted agenda which ranges from Indo-Pacific geopolitics and maritime security to climate change, human rights, and governance.
With participants ranging from current and former heads of state, cabinet ministers, and diplomats representing almost all major countries to tech innovators, human rights activists, and journalists, the Bay of Bengal Conversation is being termed one of the biggest conferences in South Asia. As Khan observed, this wide range attendance creates a unique phenomenon where former leaders bring executive wisdom, diplomats provide insight, and media representatives ensure critical analysis. While citing CGS President Zillur Rahman’s emphasis on the Bay of Bengal as an irreplaceable connection between South Asia and Southeast Asia, Khan concluded that events like the Bay of Bengal Conversation establish that Bangladesh is no longer reacting to regional dynamics, but actively hosting, driving, and shaping the global debates that define them.