The 61st Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN61) Meeting concluded successfully today at Le Méridien Dhaka. The five-day international conference was jointly hosted by the Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN) and the HEAT Project, bringing together global researchers, academicians, and ICT professionals to advance collaboration in research and education networking.  

The formal inauguration ceremony was held on 27 January 2026 at the Grand Ballroom of the hotel. The session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Md. Saidur Rahman, Member, University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh and Vice-Chairperson of BdREN. The opening address was delivered by Mr. Mohammad Tawrit, Chief Executive Officer of BdREN. Prof. Shinji Shimojo, Chairman of the Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN), attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest, while the closing remarks were delivered by Prof. Dr. Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, Member, UGC Bangladesh. The inauguration featured keynote addresses by Ms. Karin Wessel (SURF, Netherlands) on global research and education collaboration and Dr. Azreen Karim, Senior Research Fellow, BIDS, on economic perspectives in the Asia-Pacific region.  

APAN61 hosted Working Group sessions, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), Birds of a Feather (BoF) meetings, training programs, and technical discussions focusing on advanced networking, cybersecurity, data sharing, emerging technologies, and regional cooperation. Cultural programs highlighting Bangladesh’s heritage were also part of the event.  The conference recorded 355 participants from 20 countries, with both onsite and virtual attendance. A total of 101 speakers, 35 organizers, and 17 sponsors contributed to the successful execution of the event. As the national research and education network of Bangladesh, BdREN is honored to host APAN61, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening global partnerships and advancing digital connectivity for research and education.  

The summit officially concluded with a formal handover ceremony, reaffirming a continued commitment to regional collaboration in research and digital infrastructure.