North South University (NSU) is hosting its first International Conference on Pharmaceutical Sciences (ICPS 2026), bringing together pharmaceutical researchers and academics from around the world to discuss advances in drug discovery, healthcare and pharmaceutical innovation.

The three-day conference, themed ‘Innovations in Pharmaceutical Sciences for Global Health Advancement’, is being held at the university’s campus in Dhaka from 10 to 12 October, according to a press release.

Organised by NSU’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in collaboration with the Faculty of Pharmacy at Malaysia’s Universiti Malaya, the conference is presented by Beximco Pharma.

The opening ceremony was held on Saturday, with NSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury chairing the event. University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed attended as the chief guest, while NSU Board of Trustees Chairman Aziz Al Kaiser (Tito) was present as a special guest.

The conference features keynote and invited speakers from 11 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, Turkey, New Zealand, Japan and Nepal. Experts from China and the Philippines are also scheduled to participate in the scientific sessions.

Discussions will cover drug discovery, advanced drug delivery systems, clinical pharmacy, nanotechnology and regulatory sciences, with a focus on addressing healthcare challenges and strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.

The conference is expected to conclude on Monday, 12 October, with a closing ceremony and awards recognising outstanding research presentations. Rabbur Reza, chief operating officer of Beximco Pharmaceuticals PLC, is scheduled to attend as the chief guest.

The organisers said the conference aims to strengthen international research collaboration, connect Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical sector with global scientific developments and encourage the development of sustainable healthcare solutions.