Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Exhibition and Panel Discussion on ‘The Never-Ending Persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh’

On February 24, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized an exhibition and panel discussion titled ‘The Never-Ending Persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh,’ drawing attention to the ongoing violence faced by religious and ethnic minorities in the neighbouring country. The event brought together experts, diplomats, and journalists to discuss the worsening human rights crisis unfolding in Bangladesh. The panel discussion was chaired by VIF Director, Dr. Arvind Gupta, and featured former Deputy National Security Advisor, Sh.

March 06, 2025 Event Report

Discussion on the Recent Upheavals in Bangladesh and Its Repercussions

On 05 August, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a discussion on the “Recent Upheavals in Bangladesh and Its Repercussions”. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, delivered the opening remarks, followed by brief observations from Prof Sreeradha Datta; Amb Riva Ganguly Das, Former Indian High commissioner to Bangladesh; Prof. Sanjay K Bhardwaj; Amb Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty; and Amb Pankaj Saran, Former Indian High commissioners to Bangladesh, about the current situation. This was accompanied by an interactive question-and-answer session.

August 09, 2024 Event Report

Discussion on Transformation Emergence of Bangladesh and Evolution of India-Bangladesh Ties

On 08 May, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a discussion on the book titled, “Transformation Emergence of Bangladesh and Evolution of India-Bangladesh Ties” by Ambassador Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, published by KW Publishers in 2024. The Panel for the discussion consisted of the author Amb Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh; Amb Riva Ganguly Das, Former Indian High commissioner to Bangladesh; Prof. Sanjay K Bhardwaj; Ex IPS Shantanu Mukherji; Senior Journalist Jayanta Roy Chowdhury; Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF (moderator); Lt.

May 10, 2024 Event Report

Discussion on Development-Human Security Nexus: A Study on Padma Bridge Resettlement Areas

On 02 May, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a discussion on the book titled, “Development-Human Security Nexus: A Study on Padma Bridge Resettlement Areas, by Razia Sultana, Md Rafid Abrar Miah, Nahian Reza Sabriet, Md Nahiyan Shajid Khan and S M Mehedi Ahsan, published by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in March, 2024. The Panel for the discussion consisted of one of the author Md. Rafid Abrar Miah, Research Officer BIISS; Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF (moderator); Lt. General R. K.

May 03, 2024 Event Report

Book Discussion on Bangladesh on a New Journey: Moving beyond the Regional Identity

On 08 April, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a discussion on the book titled, “Bangladesh on a New Journey: Moving beyond the Regional Identity" edited by Prof. Sreeradha Datta and published by Bloomsbury in January 2024. Apart from the author, the Panel for the discussion consisted of Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF (moderator); Lt. General R. K. Sawhney (Retd.); Veena Sikri, Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh; Amb Pankaj Saran; Amb Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty; Lt Gen Rakesh Sharma; Prof Amena Mohsin; Dipanjan Chaudhury and researchers from the VIF.

April 10, 2024 Event Report

Roundtable Discussion on Recently held 12th Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh and Its Implications for India

On 29 January, the Vivekananda International Foundation organized a Round Table Discussion on the “Recently held 12th Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh and Its Implications for India”. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, delivered the opening remarks, followed by brief presentations by Prof Sreeradha Datta, Amb Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, Amb Pankaj Saran and Dr Anchita Borthakur. The presentations were accompanied by discussions, with a special focus on what should be the way forward for India in Bangladesh, after the latter’s national election.

February 17, 2024 Event Report

Talk by Hon’ble Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, H.E. Dr. Hasan Mahmud M.P. on Bangladesh-India Relations in the last Decade

On 8 February, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a special talk by Hon’ble Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, H.E. Dr. Hasan Mahmud M.P. on "Bangladesh-India Relations in the last Decade". The Foreign Minister was joined by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, H. E. Mr. Md. Mustafizur Rahman. Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF, chaired the session and made the welcome remarks. The talk was followed by an engaging question and answer session. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic community, scholars, strategic community and the media personals.

February 17, 2024 Event Report

Discussion on India-Bangladesh Relations in the Face of Upcoming Elections

On 08 May 2023, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised a talk by Prof Sreeradha Datta under the Neighbourhood Studies Centre on "India-Bangladesh Relations in the Face of Upcoming Elections". At the beginning of the talk, Lt General R K Sawhney welcomed all the participants and handed over the proceedings to Amb. Pankaj Saran, who shared some key insights on the developments in Bangladesh and welcomed Prof Sreeradha Datta for the presentation.

May 23, 2023 Event Report

Bangladesh-India Relations and the New Horizons of Possibilities

On the 21st of June, 2022, the Vivekananda International Foundation organized a talk on ‘Bangladesh-India Relations and the New Horizons of Possibilities’. Ambassador Shahidul Haque, former Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, delivered the talk that was followed by round of discussions. Through touching upon Bangladesh’s geostrategic location and its geopolitical interactions in both a local and regional context, Ambassador Haque outlined the challenges and avenues of cooperation between the country and India.

July 04, 2022 Event Report

Bangladesh War: Report from Ground Zero, MANASH GHOSH, Niyogi Books Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, INR-695, ISBN No- 978-93-91125-37-0, 2021, Pages- 220

Dhritiman Mukherjee

Manash Ghosh’s Bangladesh War: Report From Ground Zero offers a gripping narrative of the events that occurred during the liberation war of Bangladesh or Muktijuddho in 1971. The book written in lucid language is one of its kinds when it comes to providing first hand information of the liberation war from the frontlines in East Pakistan. The author, a cub reporter at the time of the war in Statesman a renowned English daily, showed immense courage and determination to go deep inside East Pakistan for covering the battle being fought by the Muktijoddhas against the Pakistan Army.

April 13, 2022 Books/Book Review