Dr. Shafi Md. Mostofa
(Associate Professor)Department of World Religions and Culture
Research Profile
Personal Website & CV
Social
Short Biography:
Shafi Md Mostofa (PhD) is a theologian and security studies scholar with broad interests in political Islam, authoritarianism, modern South Asian history and politics, and international relations and the clash of civilizations. He is an Associate Professor of World Religions and Culture at Dhaka University’s Faculty of Arts and an ...
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| Degree Name | Group/Major Subject | Board/Institute | Country | Passing Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post Graduate Diploma | Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (Populism and Democratic Erosion in South Asia) | Democracy Institute of Central European University | Hungary | 2025 |
| Post Graduate Diploma | Senior Fellow in Asian Studies (CVE in Bangladesh and UK) | London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | United Kingdom | 2024 |
| Post Graduate Diploma | Research Fellow in Asia Pacific Network (Dynamics of Violent Extremism in South Asia) | University of New England | Australia | 2021 |
| Ph.D. | History and Peace Studies (Middle Class Radicalization in Bangladesh) | University of New England (Awarded) | Australia | 2020 |
| M.Phil. | World Religions and Culture | University of Dhaka (First Part: Passed) | Bangladesh | 2013 |
| Masters | World Religions and Culture | University of Dhaka (1st Class 1st Position) | Bangladesh | 2010 |
| Bachelor | World Religions and Culture | University of Dhaka (1st Class 1st Position) | Bangladesh | 2009 |
| Title | Organization | Location | From Date | To Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Doctoral Research Fellow | Democracy Institute, Central European University | Hungary | 01, Sep 2024 | Currently Working |
| Student Advisor | Department of World Religions and Culture | Dhaka | 07, Aug 2024 | 18-10-2024 |
| Senior Research Fellow | London School of Economics and Political Science | UK | 22, Dec 2023 | 31-08-2024 |
| Associate Professor | University of Dhaka | Bangladesh | 01, Dec 2022 | Currently Working |
| Sports Advisor | Department of World Religions and Culture | Dhaka | 01, Feb 2021 | 06-08-2024 |
| Research Associate | School of Criminology and Sociology, University of New England | Australia | 01, Jul 2020 | 15-01-2021 |
| Adjunct Lecturer | University of New England | Australia | 29, Jun 2020 | Currently Working |
| Research Fellow | UNE Asia Pacific Network | Australia | 01, Jun 2020 | 31-05-2021 |
| Guest Lecturer | University of New England | Australia | 03, Jul 2017 | 19-12-2017 |
| Teaching Assistant | University of New England | Australia | 01, May 2017 | 27-12-2019 |
| Adjunct | Bangladesh University of Textiles | Dhaka | 01, Dec 2015 | 31-12-2016 |
| Assistant Professor | University of Dhaka | Dhaka | 22, Nov 2015 | 30-11-2022 |
| Lecturer | University of Dhaka | Dhaka | 03, Oct 2012 | 21-11-2015 |
Research Interest
| Subject | Description | Research Interest (Goal, Target Indicator) |
|---|---|---|
| Secularization, Terrorism, Radicalization, Authoritarianism, Modern South Asia, Political Islam, and the Clash of Civilizations | The areas of research that he is interested in covering a wide range of topics, including secularization, terrorism, radicalization, authoritarianism, modern South Asia, faith and development, political Islam, social changes, and the Clash of Civilizations. He has published numerous works in these areas, with a particular focus on political Islam. Additionally, he has provided guidance to students who are conducting research in similar areas. |
My research focuses on SDG 16. |
Project/Research Supervision
| Level of Study | Title | Supervisor | Co-Supervisor(s) | Name of Student(s) | Area of Research | Current Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters | Bangladesh's Role in the Geopolitics of Indo-Pacific | Dr. Shafi Md Mostofa | Tamim Muntasir | 2023 | ||
| Masters | Rising Divorce Rate among Urban Women in Bangladesh | Dr. Shafi Md Mostofa | Md Tariqul Islam Tanvir | 2022 | ||
| Masters | What Causes Suicide among University Graduates in Bangladesh? | Dr. Shafi Md Mostofa | Jarin Tasnim Tasfi | 2022 |
Project/Research Work
| Subject | Project Name | Source of Fund | From Date | To Date | Collaboration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trust-Building | Trust-Building Mechanism of Awami League | University Grand Commission | 23-12-2023 | ||
| Interfaith Harmony | Interreligious Dialogue in Islam: The Perspective of Muslim Scholars in Bangladesh | University Grand Commission | 24-03-2023 | Dr. Mohammad Elius | |
| Ecology | Eco-religious Teaching Environmental Sustainability: An Analysis of Workability of John B. Cobb's 'Ecological Model' in the Context of Bangladesh | University Grand Commission | 22-03-2023 | Dr. Abu Sayem | |
| Radicalization | Women Radicalization in Bangladesh | University of Dhaka | 01-07-2022 | 30-06-2023 | Shahla Shahreen |
| Political Islam | Electoral Failure of Political Islam in Bangladesh | University of Dhaka | 01-07-2022 | 31-12-2023 | |
| Populism in South Asia | Religion and Changing Political Discourses in South Asia | University of New England | 01-07-2022 | 30-06-2023 | Professor Howard Brasted and Dr. DB Subedi |
| Religion and Development | Role of Faith Leaders in Development | World Vision | 01-01-2022 | 15-03-2023 | Dr. Sazzad H. Siddiqui |
| Women Empowerment | Why Do Men Rape? Masculinities, Criminal Men and Sexual Violence in Bangladesh | University of Dhaka | 01-12-2021 | 30-06-2023 | Dr. Sheikh Imtiaz |
| Extremism | Violent Extremism in South Asia | University of New England | 01-10-2020 | 31-05-2021 | Dr. John Idris Lahai |
Invited Talk
| SL | Invited Talk |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2024: "Violent Extremism in South Asia", US State Department's Foreign Service Institute, USA. |
| 2 | 2024: Bangladesh: Radical Politics, Extremism and the Way Forward, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK |
| 3 | 2023: The Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh: The Sub-Continental Brotherhood, The Democracy Forum, UK. |
| 4 | 2023: Why Bangladesh is Tilting towards China, Stimson Centre, USA. |
| 5 | 2023: Faith and Development in the 21st Century, World Vision, Dinajpur. |
| 6 | 2023: "Role of Faith Leaders in Development", World Vision Bangladesh, Dhaka. |
| 7 | 2023: 'Authoritarianism, Election Management, Media and Politics', Asia Democratic Network (ADN), Oslo, Norway. |
| 8 | 2022: 'Foreign Fighters in South Asia', the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, India. |
| 9 | 2022: "Political Islam in the Globalized World", the Department of Government and International Relations, the University of Sydney, Australia. |
| 10 | 2021: ‘Religion, secularism, and state in Bangladesh’, Institute of South Asia Studies of the National University of Singapore, Singapore. |
| 11 | 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. |
| 12 | 2020: ‘Explaining Puzzles of Radicalization: A Pyramid Root Cause Model’, South Asian Studies Association of Australia, Australia. |
| SL | Collaboration & Membership Name | Type | Membership Year | Expire Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asiatic Society of Bangladesh | Member | 2022 | 2024 |
| 2 | Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue | Associated Member | 2012 | Life Time |
| 3 | UNE Asia Pacific Network | Regular | 2029 onwards | Life Time |
| 4 | South Asian Studies Association of Australia | Regular | 2017- Present | 2025 |
| Book | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Shafi Md Mostofa, DB Subedi and Howard V Brasted
Authoritarianism and religion in South Asia: Trends and twists.
USA: SAGE, 2024 .
|
| 2 |
Shafi Md Mostofa
Dynamics of Violent Extremism in South Asia: Nexus between State Fragility and Extremism.
Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, 2023 .
|
| 3 |
Shafi Md Mostofa
Role of Women in Islam and Sikhism.
Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing, 2012 .
|
| 4 |
Shafi Md Mostofa
Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh.
Cham: Springer, 2021 .
|
| Book Section | |
| 1 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "The Nexus Between State Fragility and Extremism in South Asia."
Violent Extremism in South Asia. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, 2023 1-22 .
|
| 2 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "State Fragility and Violent Extremism in Bangladesh."
Violent Extremism in South Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, 2023 51-79 .
|
| 3 |
Syed Mahfujul Haque Marjan and Shafi Md Mostofa "State Fragility and Dynamism of Islamist Extremism in Bangladesh: Recruitment Strategies, Women and Prison Radicalization, and Future Trajectories."
Violent Extremism in South Asia. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, 2023 81-102 .
|
| 4 |
Intijamul Islam and Shafi Md Mostofa "State Fragility, Violent Extremism, and Future of Afghanistan."
Violent Extremism in South Asia. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, 2023 173-189 .
|
| 5 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "A Politico-Religious Nexus in Bangladesh: Secularism vs Religion."
Dhaka: University of Dhaka, 2022 202-220 .
|
| 6 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "Introduction: Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh."
Cham: Springer, 2021 1-36 .
|
| 7 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "Concluding Remarks: Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh."
Cham: Springer, 2021 187-192 .
|
| 8 |
Shafi Md Mostofa, Imran Ahmed and Howard Brasted "Revisiting S.P. Huntington’s ‘The Clash of Civilizations’ Thesis."
Routledge Handbook of Political Islam. Shahram Akbarzadeh Routledge, UK, 2020 .
|
| 9 |
Shafi Md Mostofa and Baki Md Murtoza "ROLE OF EDUCATION IN SOCIAL INTEGRATION: A CASE STUDY OF BHUTANESE REFUGEES OF NEPAL IN AUSTRALIA."
REFUGEE EDUCATION IN SOUTH ASIA: POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND IMPLICATIONS. 2021 .
|
| 10 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "Islamic State’s Recruitment Strategies: The Case Study of Bangladesh."
Religion, Extremism and Violence in South Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, 2022 .
|
| 11 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "Religious Extremism and Terrorist Recruitment: The Case of Al Qaeda in Bangladesh."
Religion, Extremism and Violence in South Asia. Springer, 2022 .
|
| 12 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "Explaining Islamist Militancy: A Pyramid Root Cause Model."
Cham: Spinger, 2021 .
|
| 13 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "The Rise and Growth of Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh."
Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2021 .
|
| 14 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "The Islamization of Bangladesh."
Cham: Springer, 2021 .
|
| 15 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "The Local Drivers of Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh."
Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2021 .
|
| 16 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "Ideological and Global Factors of Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh."
Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2021 .
|
| Journal Article | |
| 1 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Geopolitics and Revolution: The Superpower Nexus Behind Hasina's Rule and the Future of Bangladesh's Foreign Policy,
SAIS Review of International Affairs (impact factor:0.10) Johns Hopkins University , pp.1-13 , 2024
.
|
| 2 |
Shafi Md Mostofa and Md Tariqul Islam Tanvir : Why Women Get Divorced in Bangladesh: Exploring Individualism and Other Factors,
Journal of Family History (impact factor:0.70) SAGE , 2024
.
|
| 3 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Prison radicalization: A persisting threat for Bangladesh,
Politics and Policy (impact factor:0.67) , vol.12 , no.2 Wiley , pp.1-15 , 2024
.
|
| 4 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Introduction to the special issue: Authoritarianism and religion in South Asia: Trends and twists,
World Affairs (impact factor:0.56) , vol.187 , no.2 Wiley , pp.1-12 , 2024
.
|
| 5 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Faith, politics, and power: The evolution of secularism and authoritarianism in Bangladesh,
World Affairs (impact factor:0.57) , vol.187 , no.2 Wiley , pp.30-46 , 2024
.
|
| 6 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Terror Financing Tricks in Bangladesh: Self-Donations, Expatriate Remittances, and Robbery,
Terrorism Monitor , vol.22 , no.5 Jamestown Foundation, USA , pp.1-4 , 2024
.
|
| 7 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Redefining gender roles: women in South Asia's Jihadist Movements,
Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression (impact factor:2.01) Taylor and Francis , pp.1-17 , 2024
.
|
| 8 |
Shahla Shahreen and Shafi Md Mostofa : Female radicalisation in Bangladesh: an investigation of its scope, extent and key motivations behind,
Critical Studies on Terrorism (impact factor:2.6) , vol.21 , no.12 Taylor and Francis , pp.1-23 , 2024
.
|
| 9 |
Shafi Md Mostofa and Muhammad Sazzad Hussain Siddiqui : Faith Leaders and Child Well-Being in Bangladesh: An Empirical Study,
The Review of Faith and International Affairs (impact factor:2.1) , vol.3 , no.1 Taylor and Francis , pp.59-74 , 2024
.
|
| 10 |
Shafi Md Mostofa and Jarin Tasnim Tasfi : Understanding complex causes of suicidal behaviour among graduates in Bangladesh,
BMC Public Health (impact factor:4.7) , vol.560 Springer Nature , pp.1-21 , 2024
.
|
| 11 |
Shafi Md Mostofa and Howard Brasted : Covid-19 and the Clash of Narratives: From Cold War to End of Time (1989-2023),
International Journal of Criminology and Sociology (impact factor:0.12) , vol.12 Life Science Global , pp.179-186 , 2023
.
|
| 12 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Countering Violent Extremism in Bangladesh,
European Eye on Radicalization , 2023
.
|
| 13 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Recruitment and Radicalization Behind Bars in Bangladesh,
Terrorism Monitor , vol.21 , no.4 Jamestown Foundation , 2023
.
|
| 14 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Legal and Moral Rights and Responsibilities of Family Members in Islam : An Analysis,
Islamic Law and Justice , 2017
.
|
| 15 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Rights and Responsibilities of Family Members in Different Religions: A Comparative Study,
, 2016
.
|
| 16 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Gender Equality in Sikhism: A Critical Analysis,
The Sikh Review , vol.64 , no.11 Sikh Research Centre, Kolkata, India , 2015
.
|
| 17 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Concept of God in Zoroastrianism,
Middle Eastern Studies University of Dhaka , 2014
.
|
| 18 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Gender Equality in Islam: A Critical Analysis,
The Dhaka University Studies University of Dhaka , 2013
.
|
| 19 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Position of Women in Islam and Sikhism: A Comparative Study,
Arts Faculty Journal University of Dhaka , 2012
.
|
| 20 |
Shafi Md Mostofa and DB Subedi : Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism in Bangladesh,
Politics and Policy (impact factor:1.65) Cambridge University Press , 2020
.
|
| 21 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Profiles of Islamist Militants in Bangladesh,
Perspective of Terrorism Terrorism Research Initiative, USA , 2019
.
|
| 22 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Understanding Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh,
Journal of Asian and African Studies (impact factor:1.21) SAGE , 2021
.
|
| 23 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Jama'at-e-Islami and Trust Building in Bangladesh,
Politics and Policy (impact factor:0.51) Wiley and Blackwell , 2021
.
|
| 24 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Key Drivers of Female Radicalisation in Bangladesh,
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses , vol.12 , no.4 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore , 2020
.
|
| 25 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : A Study of Al-Qaeda’s Propaganda Narratives in Bangladesh,
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses , vol.11 , no.2 Nanyan Technology University, Singapore , 2019
.
|
| 26 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Development of Daesh's Ideology,
Peace and Security Review , vol.8 , no.18 , 2019
.
|
| 27 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : The Diverse Roles of Bangladesh’s Diaspora Communities in Jihadism,
Diaspora Studies (impact factor:1.38) Brill , 2022
.
|
| 28 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Islam and politics in Bangladesh: the followers of Ummah: by Mubashar Hasan,
Global Change, Peace, and Security (impact factor:0.42) Taylor and Francis , 2020
.
|
| 29 |
Shafi Md Mostofa : Islam Beyond Borders: The Umma in World Politics by James Piscatori and Amin Saikal,
Church and State (impact factor:0.25) Oxford University Press , 2021
.
|
| 30 |
Shafi Md Mostofa, Didarul Islam and Ayesha Siddika : Islam and Democracy in South Asia: The Case of Bangladesh by Nazrul Islam and Saidul Islam,
Critical Research on Religion (impact factor:0.92) SAGE , 2021
.
|
| Conference Proceedings | |
| 1 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "Does Lack of Good Governance Lead to Militancy?."
Rethinking Peace, Conflict, and Governance
Sydney: University of New England, 2020
.
|
| 2 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "Who are Islamist Militants in Bangladesh."
The Postgraduate Conference
University of New England, Australia, 2020
.
|
| 3 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "Middle-Class Radicalization in Bangladesh."
The Postgraduate Conference
University of New England, 2019
.
|
| 4 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "IS Recruitment Policy in Bangladesh."
Violent Religious Extremism in South Aisa
the Deakin Institute of Globalization, Melbourne, Australia, 2018
.
|
| 5 |
Shafi Md Mostofa "Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh: A Challenge for South Asian Peace and Security."
International Conference on Dialogue for Peace and Harmony
Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, University of Dhaka, 2021
.
|
| Award Type | Title | Year | Country | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International | Democracy and Development Fellowship | 2024 | Hungary | To study and research 'political nationalism' at the Central European University (CEU), Hungary and Vienna. |
| International | Charles Wallace Fellowship | 2023 | United Kingdom | To explore Countering Violent Extremism in Bangladesh and the UK strategies at the London School of Economics and Political Science. |
| International | 'Peer Mentor of the Year - 2020' | 2020 | Australia | UNE Life awarded this for my contributions to promoting the UNE culture and leading Australian society. |
| International | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) PhD Completion Award | 2020 | Australia | For successful completion of PhD, University of New England, Australia |
| International | Conference Funding: Religious Extremism in South Asia at Deakin University | 2018 | Australia | Funded by UNE Asia Centre |
| International | Short Course Funding: “Qualitative Methodology” at Macquarie University | 2017 | Australia | Funded by UNE Asia Centre and UNE Peace Studies. |
| International | Fieldwork support funding from the School of BCSS, University of New England | 2017 | Australia | Funded by University of New England, Australia. |
| International | Keith & Dorothy Mackay Scholarship | 2017 | Australia | A short course scholarship. |
| International | International Postgraduate Research Award | 2016 | Australia | The scholarship was awarded to pursue Ph.D. from Australia. |
| National | Khaleda Monzoor-e-Khuda Memorial Gold Medal | 2012 | Bangladesh | This was awarded by the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh for obtaining the highest marks in MA, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. |
| National | Eastern Bank Limited and Dhaka University Alumni Association | 2011 | Bangladesh | Unversity of Dhaka, Bangladesh. |
| National | Mahanambrata Brahmachary Foundation Award | 2011 | Bangladesh | This was awarded for obtaining the highest marks in BA Honors examinations between 2005 and 2009, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh |
Dr. Shafi Md. Mostofa
Associate Professor
Department of World Religions and Culture
Faculty of Arts
Email: shafi@du.ac.bd