Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) is seeking to translate technical dialogue into practical policy action through a new ‘engineering diplomacy’ framework, with a 90-day roadmap drawn up around three strategically important areas: the renewal of the Ganges water-sharing agreement, regional electricity cooperation and the growth of Bangladesh’s cybersecurity industry.

The initiative aims to bring engineering expertise and evidence-based analysis into complex diplomatic and policy questions. Instead of stopping at identifying problems or making broad recommendations, the framework asks more practical questions: which stakeholders need to be involved, what evidence is required, what institutional capacity exists and which actions can realistically be taken within the next three months.

The roadmap was developed during the three-day ‘Dhaka Engineering Diplomacy Workshop 2026’, held in Dhaka from 25 to 27 August. The workshop was jointly organised by BUET’s Centre for Environmental and Resource Management (CERM) and Tufts University in the United States, with initial support from the US National Science Foundation.

Government institutions, universities, industry representatives, civil society organisations, development agencies and relevant professionals participated in the workshop. According to the organisers, its distinguishing feature was the attempt to connect policy discussions with implementation. Information, technical capacity, competing interests and institutional realities were considered alongside diplomatic priorities.

Ganges water issue placed on evidence-based footing

The renewal of the Ganges water-sharing agreement is among Bangladesh’s most significant cross-border water diplomacy issues. The workshop highlighted the need to strengthen future negotiations through better data and clearer measurements of the country’s water requirements.

One proposal was to examine a minimum assured flow based on Bangladesh’s needs and measurable indicators. Participants also considered the longer-term possibility of water augmentation involving Nepal, India and Bangladesh as a way of improving regional water availability.

Any such approach would first require a more precise assessment of Bangladesh’s water needs. Agricultural production, industrial activity, environmental requirements and the needs of communities all have to be considered alongside seasonal and longer-term changes in river flows.

Determining Bangladesh’s minimum required flow at Farakka would also be an important part of building that evidence base. The 90-day roadmap therefore places emphasis on bringing together research and information currently scattered across different sources and analysing India’s potential position in future negotiations.

A stronger technical foundation could give Bangladesh greater scope to support its diplomatic position with measurable evidence and scientific analysis rather than relying primarily on political arguments.

Exploring alternatives in regional electricity trade

Electricity cooperation is another area where the workshop identified opportunities for a broader regional approach.

Bangladesh already maintains significant cross-border electricity cooperation with India. Participants discussed the possibility of reducing reliance on a single entry route by examining alternative regional connections, including a potential eastern connection through Myanmar and wider electricity cooperation among Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation countries.

Such possibilities would require careful technical, regulatory and institutional preparation. The proposed 90-day programme therefore includes a study of national electricity demand and information-sharing requirements.

The roadmap also proposes work on aligning grid codes to facilitate cross-border electricity trading. Bangladesh’s legal and procurement capabilities for negotiating international energy agreements are another area identified for strengthening.

The focus is not simply on increasing electricity imports. A more interconnected regional system would require compatible technical standards, effective regulatory arrangements, reliable information exchange and adequate transmission infrastructure.

Building trust in the domestic cybersecurity sector

The workshop also examined the challenges facing Bangladesh’s cybersecurity industry. Although local technology companies and start-ups have opportunities in the sector, confidence in domestic products and the ability to independently verify their effectiveness remain significant concerns.

One proposed solution is a collaborative platform bringing together banks, cybersecurity start-ups and universities. Such cooperation could help connect research and product development with the practical requirements of major institutions.

Participants also called for a credible assessment framework through which locally developed cybersecurity products could be evaluated for quality and effectiveness. Independent and transparent assessment could help institutions make more informed decisions when considering domestic technology.

The creation of ‘anchor partners’ among government agencies and large organisations was another proposal. Their participation could help create an initial market for suitable local cybersecurity solutions while giving developers access to real-world requirements and feedback.

The broader objective is to create greater opportunities for domestic technology development based on Bangladesh’s own cybersecurity needs, rather than depending entirely on imported solutions.

A six-stage approach to complex policy problems

Engineering diplomacy seeks to connect technical expertise with diplomacy and public policymaking. During the workshop, participants followed a six-stage framework covering problem identification, analysis of circumstances and constraints, identification of decision pathways, determination of necessary processes and tools, measurement of outcomes, and assessment of implementation feasibility.

Three questions were also central to the discussions: why the same information can produce different interpretations, where intervention could have the greatest effect, and how new solutions might be developed beyond established structures.

This approach is intended to make policy discussions more actionable. A technically sound proposal, for example, still needs to identify the institutions responsible for implementation, the evidence required to support it and the practical obstacles that could prevent it from moving forward.

BUET regards the August workshop as a pilot initiative. Its longer-term plan is to establish a permanent engineering diplomacy centre led by the university for Bangladesh and the wider South Asian region.

The proposed centre would focus on training, applied research and annual workshops, while also providing policy and technical support to government institutions and industry.

The immediate test, however, will be the implementation of the 90-day roadmap. The success of the initiative will depend on whether the proposals developed through the workshop can move from discussion into measurable action.

If progress can be demonstrated in water diplomacy, regional electricity cooperation and cybersecurity, engineering diplomacy could offer Bangladesh a new way of combining engineering expertise, reliable evidence and diplomatic engagement in addressing complex policy challenges.