Diplomatic Desk:
A call has been made to further strengthen cybersecurity capabilities to protect Bangladesh’s air and space assets, as well as to safeguard national security and sovereignty. The discussion emphasized the need for collective responsibility—at the leadership, institutional, and individual levels—along with enhanced cooperation among universities, the industrial sector, and the armed forces.
These points were highlighted during a seminar titled “From Cyber Awareness to Cyber Resilience: Securing Bangladesh’s Air and Space Power,” held on Sunday (November 1, 2026) at the Bangladesh Centre for Air and Space Power Studies (BCASPS), located at Bangladesh Air Force Base Bashar in Dhaka Cantonment.
The seminar was attended by Air Vice Marshal Rusad Deen Asad, BBP, OSP, BPP, NDU, AOWC, PSC—Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations) and Chairman of BCASPS—who served as the chief guest.
In his address, the chief guest stated that awareness forms the foundation of cybersecurity, while the ultimate goal is to achieve cyber resilience. Describing cyber capability as an essential component of national power, he noted that its significance in protecting national security and sovereignty is as critical as the nation’s air and space capabilities.
He further emphasized that cybersecurity is not merely a technical issue; rather, it is a collective responsibility shared by leadership, institutions, and individuals alike. He urged for stronger collaboration among universities, the industrial sector, and the armed forces, and called for effective measures to implement the recommendations put forward during the seminar.
The Executive Director of BCASPS delivered the welcome remarks, noting that one of the core objectives of the center is to foster communication and coordination among the armed forces, policymakers, academics, and the industrial sector. Following the welcome remarks, the Director of the Cyber Warfare and Information Technology Directorate at Air Force Headquarters outlined the various activities and achievements of the ‘Cyber Security Awareness Month-2026’ observed within the Bangladesh Air Force.
Three experts presented keynote papers at the seminar. Dr. B. M. Mainul Hossain, a professor at the Institute of Information Technology, University of Dhaka, presented a paper titled “From Awareness to Resilience: Understanding the Cyber Threat Landscape.”
Mohammad Shahadat Hossain—Head of Third-Party Risk Management, Information Security Strategy, Stakeholder Management, Security Awareness, and Security Operations Governance at Grameenphone Ltd.—presented a paper titled “Building Bangladesh’s Cyber Defence Capability: Technology, Industry and Capability Gaps.”
Additionally, Dr. Shahab Enam Khan—a professor in the Department of International Relations at Jahangirnagar University (currently on lien at the Bangladesh University of Professionals) and a member of the BCASPS Governing Body—presented a paper titled “Beyond the Fence: Cyber Resilience as a Whole-of-Nation Priority for Air and Space Power.”
Following the keynote presentations, a panel discussion titled “From Dialogue to Action: A National Pathway to Cyber Resilience” was held. The session was moderated by Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Mahmud Hossain and featured the three keynote speakers, along with the Director of the Cyber Warfare and Information Technology Directorate at Air Force Headquarters.
