CU Correspondent
The inaugural ceremony of the two-day 1st RCASBC International Conference 2026 was held at the Faculty of Social Sciences auditorium of Chittagong University (CU) on Sunday, September 13.
Jointly organized by the Research Center for Asian Studies Bangladesh Center (RCASBC) and the Department of International Relations, CU, the conference is centered on the theme “Rethinking Rule-Based Global Order: Middle and Small States in a Changing World.”
CU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr. Mohammad Al-Amin attended the inaugural session as a special guest and formally declared the conference open. In his address, he underscored the role of technological innovation in reshaping national economies and societies, noting that timely conferences provide essential platforms for generating innovative concepts and initiatives.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Md. Sofiqul Islam stated that the university administration actively encourages academic symposiums and knowledge-driven discussions to establish CU as an international, research-oriented institution. He expressed hope that the deliberations would yield critical insights into changing global systems and contribute toward a peaceful, stable, and rule-based world order.
Port City International University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Toiwob Chowdhury and CU Faculty of Social Sciences Dean Professor Dr. Md. Enayet Ullah Patwary also attended as special guests.
Chaired by Mohammad Niaz Morshed, Chairman of the Department of International Relations and Member Secretary of the organizing committee, the event commenced with a welcome address by Conference Convener and Director of RCASBC Professor Dr. Sujit Kumar Dutta. Professor Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin, former CU Pro-VC (Administration), and Professor Dr. Mohammad Faridul Alam also addressed the gathering.
The two-day conference brings together academics, researchers, diplomats, policymakers, and professionals from Bangladesh and abroad. A total of 457 research abstracts were submitted from 24 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, and the Pacific region, including Bangladesh, the United States, Russia, India, China, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
Representing over 800 individual researchers and more than 120 universities, think tanks, and research organizations worldwide, around 200 selected papers are scheduled for presentation across six thematic tracks. The sessions are organized in a hybrid format, featuring in-person presentations alongside approximately 45 virtual presentations from international participants.