NSU Hosts Distinguished Lecture on Singapore’s Foreign Policy and Bangladesh-Singapore Relations
School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) at North South University (NSU) recently organized a seminar titled “Reflections on the Foreign Policy of a Small Country: The Case of Singapore.” Event was part of the prestigious NSU SHSS Distinguished Lecture Series, aiming to enhance students’ understanding of global affairs and foreign policy strategies.
Seminar held at the NSU Syndicate Hall featured Mitchell Lee chief of mission at the Singapore High Commission in Dhaka as the keynote speaker. Session was chaired by NSU vice chancellor and moderated by treasurer and pro vice chancellor (in-charge).
In his opening remarks dean of SHSS at NSU highlighted the strategic and pragmatic foreign policy Singapore has followed since its independence, inspired by its first foreign minister S. Rajaratnam. He emphasized Singapore’s reliance on economic strength, multilateralism and international law as key pillars of its foreign policy.
Mitchell Lee elaborated on Singapore’s diplomatic strategies, focusing on maintaining global relevance, creating political and economic space which embracing globalization. He also touched on the strengthening of Bangladesh-Singapore bilateral relations including ongoing discussions around a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) expected in the second half of 2026.
During the interactive Q&A session, NSU faculty and students actively engaged in discussions around small state diplomacy, multilateralism, and the challenges faced by countries like Singapore in an evolving global order.
NSU treasurer underscored the importance of such academic engagements in promoting international cooperation and deeper understanding between nations.
In his closing remarks, NSU vice chancellor praised Singapore’s long-term planning and value-driven governance, calling it a model for small states aspiring to global influence. He stressed that seminars like this play a crucial role in developing critical thinking and global perspectives among university students.
This high-profile event reflects NSU’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence and global engagement, particularly in the fields of foreign policy, diplomacy and international relations.