A Seminar on South Asia Beyond Geopolitics: Connectivity, Development, and Modernization held at ULAB

Professor Dingkun Lei from East China Normal University read his paper on Connectivity, Development, and Modernization in South Asia with a specific focus on Bangladesh. The seminar was held on 09 July 2026 at ULAB. The seminar was jointly organized by the Center for South Asian Studies and the Department of General Education. In his paper Professor Lei has discussed multilateral engagements of India, China, and the US with Bangladesh. In the process he unpacked the possible trajectory of a ‘smaller’ state like Bangladesh to navigate around relatively ‘stronger’ countries’ “big brother” policies to establish a common developmental goal.