DU Public Administration Department holds two-day international conference

The Department of Public Administration at Dhaka University (DU) has concluded a two-day international conference focusing on the role of public administration in addressing global crises and responding to changing governance, policy and technological challenges.

The closing session of the ‘International Conference on Public Administration-2026’ was held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban auditorium on Sunday.

The conference featured the theme ‘Rethinking Public Administration in an Era of Global Crisis: Governance and Policy Responses’.

A total of 180 research papers were submitted by researchers from 12 countries. Following a review process, the organisers selected 76 papers for presentation across 15 academic sessions. Teachers and researchers from 14 universities in Bangladesh and 15 universities abroad, along with representatives of professional organisations and research institutions, took part in the conference.

Prof Syeda Lasna Kabir, chairperson of the Department of Public Administration and convener of the conference, presided over the closing session.

Former DU vice-chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan attended the programme as the chief guest, while Zeng Xiangyu, associate professor at Sichuan University, China, attended as the guest of honour.

Rector of the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) Sayeed Mahbub Khan, Secretary of the South Asian Network for Public Administration (SANPA) Mohammad Mizanur Rahman and DU Public Administration Department Prof Musleh Uddin Ahmed attended the programme as special guests.

Emeritus Prof Ahmed Shafiqul Haque of McMaster University, Canada, delivered the closing speech.

Researchers, teachers and students from DU’s Department of Public Administration, as well as academics and researchers from home and abroad, participated in different sessions throughout the conference.

The sessions examined global crisis management, governance, policy formulation, administrative reform, technological change and the role of public administration in a changing global environment.

Speaking as the chief guest, Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan said public administration was a discipline that had ample reasons to be celebrated. He called for more research into contemporary challenges facing Bangladesh, particularly cyber-related issues.

‘The department should move forward in a way that produces skilled researchers on the one hand and qualified civil servants on the other,’ he said. ‘It is highly commendable that the department has shown the courage to organise such an international conference by bringing together academics and researchers while keeping political considerations aside,’ he added.

Guest of honour Dr Zeng Xiangyu highlighted the importance of different dimensions of governance and building a shared future for effective public administration. He stressed greater cooperation and knowledge exchange among countries by sharing administrative experiences and practices.

Special guest Sayeed Mahbub Khan said the BPATC was committed to developing effective and practical training programmes in coordination with relevant institutions to strengthen public-sector management and ethical leadership.

‘Through these initiatives, we are focusing on developing skilled, responsible and ethical human resources,’ he said.

SANPA Secretary Mohammad Mizanur Rahman said South Asian countries faced different experiences and challenges in public administration. He pointed to China’s development over the past several decades and said research into its own public administration system and the implementation of research findings had played an important role in that progress.

‘We need more discussion and research to identify Bangladesh’s problems and find effective solutions to them,’ he said.

Prof Musleh Uddin Ahmed said fundamental changes were taking place in technology, management and administration, requiring greater transparency and accountability in public institutions.

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‘Necessary changes should be made at both national and local levels in the use of digital technology,’ he said, adding that administrative structures also needed to evolve alongside technological changes to remain aligned with public expectations and changing realities.

In his closing speech, Emeritus Prof Ahmed Shafiqul Haque said researchers had not only identified various problems in public administration but had also proposed possible solutions.

‘Now is the time to move towards implementing these research findings and proposals,’ he said.

He added that financial resources alone were not sufficient for effective implementation, stressing the need for skilled and adequate manpower.

He also underscored the importance of rebuilding public trust and strengthening global cooperation for the sustainable recovery of public institutions.

In her concluding remarks, Prof Syeda Lasna Kabir said institutions in the modern world needed to be not only efficient but also capable of adapting to changing circumstances.

‘They need to be innovative as well as responsible. Alongside addressing crises, they must learn from crises and use those lessons to transform and improve themselves,’ she said.

‘To rethink public administration, we need to build institutions and knowledge bases that can learn, adapt, innovate and give the highest priority to public interest in line with the changing world,’ she added.

Prof Syeda Lasna Kabir also announced plans to publish a book containing selected research papers presented at the conference.