North South University’s (NSU) Center for Migration Studies (CMS) and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) jointly organised a national seminar titled “From Workforce to Strategic Partnership: Reimagining Bangladesh–KSA Relations” on Saturday, 10 October 2026, at the Multipurpose Hall of the Foreign Service Academy, Dhaka.
Mr. Humaiun Kobir, Honourable State Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, attended the seminar as the Chief Guest. Dr. Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (Bilateral) and IGM (East & West), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended as Special Guest.
Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, awc, afwc, psc, G, Director General, BIISS, delivered the welcome address and moderated the seminar. He highlighted the longstanding Bangladesh–Saudi Arabia relationship and emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation in skilled migration, investment, trade, food security, and regional stability. 
The seminar started with introductory remarks by Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor, NSU. He emphasised the importance of diversifying bilateral trade and investment while investing in education, vocational training, language skills, and professional development to prepare Bangladeshi workers for changing labour market demands. He expressed hope that the seminar would provide useful insights for policymakers and researchers and help identify practical pathways for strengthening Bangladesh–Saudi Arabia relations.
Two keynote presentations were delivered by Dr. Mohammed Nuruzzaman, Professor, Department of Political Science and Sociology, NSU, and Dr. Selim Reza, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Sociology, NSU, and Coordinator, Center for Migration Studies (CMS), NSU. Dr Nuruzzaman examined emerging opportunities and challenges in Bangladesh–Saudi Arabia relations, including economic diversification, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and the strategic implications of Bangladesh’s potential participation in the Mecca Pact. Dr Selim Reza emphasised the need to move beyond traditional manpower exports towards a skills-based partnership, highlighting fair recruitment, workers’ rights, professional development, and measurable improvements in labour protection.
The panel discussion featured Dr. Rashed Uz Zaman, Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, and Dr. Benuka Ferdousi, Senior Research Fellow, BIISS. Dr. Rasheduzzaman discussed the changing geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East, Bangladesh’s strategic autonomy, and opportunities for cooperation in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and data infrastructure. Dr. Ferdousi highlighted the importance of diversifying labour migration destinations, understanding Saudi Arabia’s evolving labour market policies, including the Nitaqat Programme, and developing a skilled workforce responsive to global employment demands.
The open discussion and question-and-answer session brought together representatives of government institutions, migrant workers’ rights advocates, development partners, academia, youth organisations, and civil society. Participants exchanged views on labour migration, investment, trade diversification, workforce development, and the need for coordinated policy action to ensure that closer bilateral engagement delivers tangible benefits for both countries.
In his remarks, Dr. Md Nazrul Islam emphasised the importance of transforming Bangladesh–Saudi Arabia relations from traditional labour migration towards a broader strategic economic partnership, with opportunities for investment, skilled employment, and collaboration in artificial intelligence and data centres. He also stressed the importance of inter-ministerial coordination, effective monitoring, and stakeholder consultation to advance bilateral cooperation while safeguarding Bangladesh’s national interests.
Chief Guest, Mr. Humaiun Kobir, highlighted the need to build a comprehensive partnership based on mutual trust, investment, technology, innovation, and human capital development. He encouraged both countries to explore opportunities in agriculture, connectivity, logistics, supply chains, clean energy, and other emerging sectors while ensuring that workers’ rights and skills development remain central to bilateral cooperation.
Professor Sk. Tawfique M. Haque, Director, SIPG, NSU, delivered the concluding remarks, underscoring the dignity and economic contributions of Bangladeshi migrant workers and calling for stronger protection of their rights, safety, and well-being.
The seminar served as a platform for policy dialogue among government officials, researchers, academics, and other stakeholders on advancing Bangladesh–Saudi Arabia relations beyond traditional labour migration towards a more diversified, mutually beneficial, and strategic partnership in light of Saudi Vision 2030.