Dr Shafi Md Mostofa

Adjunct Lecturer - School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Shafi Md Mostofa

Phone: +61 0415243250

Email: shafi@une.edu.au; shafi@du.ac.bd

Twitter: @ShafiMostofa

Biography

Shafi Mostofa is a theologian and a political scientist of South Asia. He received his PhD from the University of New England in 2020. His research interest lies at the intersections of religion and politics in South Asia. His current work focuses on Authoritarianism, Islam in the modern world, Radicalization, Terrorism, and Political Islam.

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, University of New England

Master of Philosophy (First Part), University of Dhaka

Master of Arts (World Religions and Culture), University of Dhaka

Bachelor of Arts (World Religions and Culture), University of Dhaka

Awards

Academic Excellence Awards

2012: Khaleda Monzoor-e-Khuda Memorial Gold Medal, awarded by the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh for obtaining the highest marks in MA, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2011: Mahanambrata Brahmachary Foundation Award for obtaining the highest marks in BA Honors examinations between 2005 and 2009: University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Financial Awards

2020: Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) PhD Completion Award, University of New England, Australia.

2017-2018: Keith & Dorothy Mackay Scholarship, University of New England, Australia.

2018: Conference Funding: Religious Extremism in South Asia at  Deakin University, Australia, UNE Asia Centre.

2017: Fieldwork support funding from the School of BCSS, University of New England, Australia.

2017: Short Course Funding: “Qualitative Methodology” at  Macquarie University, UNE Asia Centre and UNE Peace Studies.

2016-2020: International Postgraduate Research Award, University of New England, Australia.

2011: Eastern Bank Limited and Dhaka University Alumni Association, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Organisational Awards

2020: 'Peer Mentor of the Year - 2020', UNE Life, University of New England, Australia.

Research Interests

Modern South Asia

Comparative Politics in Asia

Religion and Politics

Political Islam

Radicalisation and Terrorism

Research Supervision Experience

Supervised a number of Masters Theses at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Publications

Journal articles

2020: ‘Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism in Bangladesh’, with DB Subedi. Journal of Politics and Religion, Cambridge University Press, UK, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755048320000401

2020: ‘Key Drivers of Female Radicalization in Bangladesh’, Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses, Vol. 12, Issue No. 4

2019: ‘Profiles of Islamist Militants in Bangladesh’, with Natalie J. Doyle. Perspectives on Terrorism, Vol. 13, Issue No. 5

2019: ‘A Study of Al-Qaeda’s Propaganda Narratives in Bangladesh’. Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses, Vol. 11, Issue No. 2

2019: ‘Development of Daesh's Ideology’, with Professor Helen Ware. Peace and Security Review, Vol. 8, Issue No. 18

2017: ‘Legal and Moral Rights and Responsibilities of Family Members in Islam: A Critical Analysis’, Journal of Islamic Law and Judiciary, Vol-50

2016: ‘Gender Equality in Sikhism: A Critical Analysis’, the Sikh Review, Vol-64, Issue No. 11

2015: ‘Rights and Responsibilities of Family Members in Different Religions: A Comparative Study’ International Journal of Recent Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 2, Issue 4

2015: ‘Concept of God in Zoroastrianism: A Critical Analysis’, the Eastern Studies Journal, Issue No 5

2014: ‘Gender Equality in Islam: A Critical Analysis’ the Dhaka University Studies, Vol.69

2013: ‘The Position of Women in Islam and Sikhism: A Comparative Study’, the Arts Faculty Journal, Vol. 6, No. 7

Book Chapters

2021: ‘Revisiting S.P. Huntington’s ‘The Clash of Civilizations’ Thesis,’ with Professor Howard Brasted, and Imran Ahmed. In Shahram Akbarzadeh (ed.), Routledge Handbook of Political Islam (UK: Routledge).

2021: ‘Religious extremism and terrorist recruitment in Bangladesh: The case of Al Qaeda’. In I. Ahmed, Z. Shahab, H. Brasted, & S. Akbarzadeh, Violent Religious Extremism in South Asia: Emerging Trends and Countering Measures (London: Palgrave) forthcoming.

2021: ‘Islamic State's Recruitment Strategies: The Case Study of Bangladesh’. with Professor Howard Brasted,  In I. Ahmed, Z. Shahab, H. Brasted, & S. Akbarzadeh, Violent Religious Extremism in South Asia: Emerging Trends and Countering Measures (London: Palgrave) forthcoming.

Book Reviews

2020: ‘Islam and Politics in Bangladesh: The Followers of Ummah, by Mubashar Hasan.’ Global Change, Peace, and Security, https://doi.org/10.1080/14781158.2020.1798025

2021: ‘Islam Beyond Borders: The Umma in World Politics by James Piscatori and Amin Saikal’, (forthcoming), The Journal of Church and State, Oxford University Press

Non-Refereed Academic Article

2020: ‘Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: The impacts of forced migration’, The Policy Forum, the Australian National University, Australia.

Commentaries

2020: ‘What Does Covid-19 Mean for Terrorism in Bangladesh?’, The Diplomat, United States.

2020: ‘Bangladesh’s Ambiguity on Religion Has Been Expensive for the Country’, The Diplomat, United States.

Analysis

2020: ‘Cyber-Radicalization in Bangladesh’, The Australian Outlook, Australian Institute of International Affairs.

Invited Talks

2020: ‘Explaining Puzzles of Radicalization: A Pyramid Root Cause Model’, South Asian Studies Association of Australia Digital Seminar.

2020: ‘Covid-19 and Clash of Narratives’, International Webinar, the Centre for Studies of South and South-East Asian Societies of Kazi Nazrul University, India.

Conference Presentations

2020: ‘Does Lack of Good Governance Lead to Militancy?’ Rethinking Peace, Conflict, and Governance, the University of New England, Sydney Campus

2020: ‘Who are Islamist Militants in Bangladesh’, the Postgraduate Conference, University of New England

2019: ‘Middle-Class Radicalization in Bangladesh’, the Postgraduate Conference, University of New England

2018: ‘IS Recruitment Policy in Bangladesh’, Violent Religious Extremism in South Aisa, the Deakin Institute of Globalization in Melbourne

Participation in Conferences, Workshops, Dialogues and Training Programs

Conferences

2020: Chaired a session ‘Reintegration, Security and Peace’, Rethinking Peace, Conflict, and Governance, the University of New England, Sydney Campus

2018: ‘Cyber Radicalization: Challenges and Way Forward’, the Bangladesh Institute of Peace & Security Studies (BIPSS), Dhaka

2010: 2nd International Conference on ‘Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue-2010’, Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU), Ministry of Education, Bangladesh, and Centre for Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue, University of Dhaka

2010: International Consultation Conference on ‘Prospects for Dialogue and Religious Studies in South Asian Universities’, Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka

2009:1st International Conference on ‘Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue-2009’, Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU), Ministry of Education, Bangladesh, and Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, University of Dhaka

Workshops

2018: ‘Security Outlook of Bangladesh in 2018’, Bangladesh Institute of Peace & Security Studies (BIPSS), Bangladesh

2018: ‘Radicalization in Bangladesh’, Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Polic
e, Bangladesh

2018: ‘Countering Violent Extremism (CVE): Building Resilience and Capacity’, Bangladesh Institute of Peace & Security Studies (BIPSS), Bangladesh

2017: ‘Foundations of Qualitative Methodologies, Data Collection and Analysis’, Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research Incorporated (ACSPRI), Australia

2011: ‘Character Education and Leadership Training’, NextGen Leadership Academy, Bangladesh Chapter, in collaboration with the Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka

2011: ‘I Am My Own Guardian’, Self-Esteem School, Bangladesh

2011: ‘e-Resource Management’, Dhaka University Library, Dhaka, Bangladesh

2009: ‘A Journey of Self Discovery’, NextGen Leadership Academy, Bangladesh Chapter and the University of Dhaka

2008: ‘the Annual Debate Workshop-2008’, Dhaka University Debating Society, Bangladesh

2007: ‘Family Values’, Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace-Bangladesh, (IIFWP), Bangladesh Chapter

2006: ‘Quaker’, Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka

2006:Method and Theory of Study of Religion’Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

2006:Mormon’, Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

2006: ‘Human Rights Education’, International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), Bangladesh Chapter, Bangladesh

Dialogues

2009: Imams and Pastors Dialogue on ‘Unity in Diversity’, Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka, Episcopal Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue and Centre for Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

2009: ‘Dialogue with Sikh Community in Bangladesh’, Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

2008: ‘A Common Call: Muslims and Christians’, Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and Episcopal Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue, Bangladesh

2008: ‘Muslim-Christian Dialogue-2’, Centre for Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and Episcopal Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue, Bangladesh

2008: ‘Dialogue with Baha'i Community in Bangladesh’, Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Venue: Baha’i Centre, Shantinagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

2012: ‘International Humanitarian Law’, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies and the International Committee of the Red Cross

2011: ‘Youth Leadership Training Programme on Bioethics for Ensuring Human Rights’, Bangladesh Bioethics Society (BBS) in collaboration with Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO

2010: ‘Train the Trainer’, Universal Peace Federation, USA.

2008: ‘Character Education’, NextGen Leadership Academy, USA, in collaboration with Universal Peace Federation and Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka

2004: ‘Capsule Training-2004 of 2 Mahasthan Battalion’, 2 Mahasthan Battalion, Bangladesh

Memberships

Member: South Asian Studies Association of Australia

Member: Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, University of Dhaka

Professional service

Assistant Professor: Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka since November 22, 2015.

Research Assistant: School of HASS, Sociology and Criminology, University of New England, Australia, since September 2020.

Teaching Assistant: University of New England, Australia from May 2017 to April 2020.

Lecturer: Department of World Religions and Culture, University of Dhaka, from October 3, 2012 to July 15, 2014.

Guest Lecturer: Political and International Studies at the University of New England, Australia, 2017.

Adjunct: Bangladesh University of Textile from 2014 to 2016.

Conference Organiser:

2020: ‘Rethinking Peace, Conflict, and Governance’, the University of New England, Parramatta Campus.

Language abilities

Native Bengali speaker.