Bay of Bengal Conversation (BoBC 2026), 5th Edition

Spent the day tracking macro-level frameworks at the inaugural tracks of the 5th edition of the Bay of Bengal Conversation (BoBC 2026), organized by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS).

The day featured incredible perspectives from an esteemed lineup of global leaders and speakers, including:

Boris Tadić — Former President of Serbia
Mohamed Nasheed — Former President of the Maldives
Moussa Mara — Former Prime Minister of Mali
Rupa Huq — Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom
C. Christine Fair — Professor, Georgetown University, USA

My top takeaways from navigating today’s geopolitical and economic discussions:

💡 Track-II Diplomacy: Essential for maintaining regional balance and fostering trust amidst major-power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
💡 Resilient Policy: We must match rapid technological innovation with strong, democratic public governance to protect institutional integrity.
💡 Bay of Bengal’s Strategic Value: Deeper cross-border connectivity is the single biggest catalyst for sustainable trade and climate resilience.