People

Governing Council

Muhammed Emon Mia

Director, Research and Publications

LL.M. Candidate, University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, United States

Muhammed Emon Mia directs BSLE’s research and publications work. His legal training spans NALSAR University of Law in India and postgraduate legal study in the United States, with academic interests in human rights, international law and international humanitarian law.

Education & research interests

Current academic position

LL.M. Candidate, University of New Hampshire (UNH) Franklin Pierce School of Law

Education

B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, India (ICCR Scholar)

Research interests

Human Rights; International Law; International Humanitarian Law

Research focus

Explores international legal frameworks for protecting rights and addressing humanitarian concerns, including the legal norms governing armed conflict.

Governing Council

Md Shariful Islam Asif

Director, Policy, Programs and Partnerships

Current BSLE position: Director, Policy, Programs and Partnerships

Md Shariful Islam Asif oversees policy engagement, programme development and partnerships at BSLE. His legal education at BPP University in London and Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology informs his interests in intellectual property law and the regulation of artificial intelligence.

Education, research & experience

Current position

Director, Policy, Programs and Partnerships, Bangladesh Society for Law and Economics (BSLE)

Education

• LL.M. (Master of Laws) in International Business Law, BPP University, London, United Kingdom
• LL.B. (Hons.), Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Research interests

Intellectual Property Law; Artificial Intelligence Regulation

Additional experience

Student Voice Representative, BPP Students’ Association (2025–2026).

Governing Council

Phir Mawikim Pangkhua

Treasurer

Student Counselor, Shad Visa International

Phir Mawikim Pangkhua serves as BSLE’s Treasurer and as a Student Counselor at Shad Visa International. A sociology graduate of Miranda House, University of Delhi, Phir focuses on public policy, equity in education and the health sector, and has held leadership positions in the Foreign Students Association.

Education, research & leadership

Current position

Student Counselor, Shad Visa International

Education

B.A. (Honours) in Sociology, Miranda House, University of Delhi, India

Research interests

Public Policy; Equity in Education; Health Sector

Leadership experience

• Treasurer, Foreign Students Association (2024–2025)
• Public Relations Head, Foreign Students Association (2025–2026)

Governing Council and Research Team

Farija Akther

Publicity Secretary
Legal Research & Publications Assistant

Farija Akther leads BSLE’s communications and contributes to legal research and publications. Her work encompasses gender justice, human rights, refugee studies and research on the right to education; she has undertaken fellowship and field-research activities relating to gender-based violence and peacebuilding.

Education, research, fellowships & publications

Education

LL.B. (Hons.), Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Research interests

Human Rights; Gender Justice; Criminology; International Law; Refugee Studies; Intellectual Property (IP) Law; Corporate Law

Fellowships & experience

• SHUCHONA Youth Development Fellowship 2026: Selected fellow under Awareness 360 in partnership with Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST). Working on GBV Compass Bangladesh, with a focus on gender-based violence research, content development and awareness.
• Peace Champions Fellowship — Project PAHELA: Participating in a peacebuilding initiative associated with the Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ), BRAC University, Surge Bangladesh and Nagorikata CEF, focusing on peacebuilding and community engagement.
• Research Assistant, Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology (SMUCT), Dhaka: Contributed to “Major Problems Faced by the Undergraduate Students of SMUCT Towards Their Academic Progress,” including survey-based data collection, interviews, focus group discussions and qualitative data analysis.

Publications

Published research on child labour law and the right to education of Rohingya refugee children.

Research experience

Legal research; human rights advocacy; policy research; field-based research.

Academic Advisory Board

Dr. Zobayer Ahmed

Chief Academic Advisor

Associate Professor, Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dr. Zobayer Ahmed is an Associate Professor at the Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM). His research addresses economic development, public policy, the third-sector economy, circular economy and sustainability. He publishes in Scopus- and Web of Science-indexed journals and serves on academic editorial boards.

Education, research & achievements

Current position

Associate Professor, Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM), Dhaka, Bangladesh

Education

• PhD in Economics, Selçuk University, Türkiye (2024)
• Master of Development Studies (MDS), University of Dhaka
• MSS in Economics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
• BSS (Honours) in Economics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

Research interests

Economic Development and Public Policy; Third-Sector Economy; Circular Economy and Sustainability

Academic achievements

• Editorial board service, including Discover Sustainability (Springer Nature).
• Research published in Scopus- and Web of Science-indexed journals.
• Recipient of the Türkiye Government Scholarship and CRT Research Award.

Academic Advisory Board

Dr. Md Abul Hasan

Advisor — Economic Analysis & Empirical Policy

Research Director, Center for Policy, Research & Innovation, Dhaka, Bangladesh; affiliated with HSE University, Moscow, Russia

Dr. Md Abul Hasan researches South Asian geopolitics, foreign policy and regional political economy. Affiliated with HSE University’s Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs in Moscow, he serves as Research Director at the Center for Policy, Research & Innovation in Dhaka. His publications examine Bangladesh’s foreign-policy choices, regional dynamics and geoeconomic change.

Education, research & achievements

Current position

Research Director, Center for Policy, Research & Innovation, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Academic affiliation

Candidate of Science, Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, HSE University, Moscow, Russia

Education

• PhD in International Relations and Regional Studies, HSE University
• Master’s in Politics, Economics and Philosophy, HSE University
• Economics studies, Jagannath University, Bangladesh

Research interests

South Asian Geopolitics; Foreign Policy Analysis; Regional Political Economy

Research & distinctions

• Published research on Bangladesh’s foreign policy, regional geopolitics and geoeconomic dynamics.
• Author of “Multipolarity and Regionalism: The Opportunities and Challenges for South Asia” (2026, with co-authors).
• Author of “Bangladesh’s Hedging Foreign Relations: The Dilemmas of a Weak State” (2024).
• Recipient of Russian Government scholarships.