Shafi Md Mostofa
Biographic Data
| ID | 307683 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Shafi Md Mostofa |
| GIVEN NAMES | Shafi Md |
| FAMILY NAME | Mostofa |
| SIGNATURE | MOSTOFA S M |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Dhaka |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-1641-0683 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 20 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 19 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2021 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Incipient Intellectuals and Revolutionary Mobilization
In July 2024, Bangladesh experienced a large-scale, cross-ideological student mobilization that unfolded without visible charismatic leadership or formal organizational command. This article explores how such a broad-based uprising became possible in a political environment characterized by coercive campus governance, ideological fragmentation, and deep mistrust of established student organizations. Drawing on a qualitative, interpretive case-stu…
Cattivi Maestri
In this introduction to the Special Issue, we lay out the main lines of inquiry that guide our study. The main question addressed is the role of intellectuals in episodes of radical political mobilization, that is actions bent on challenging or upending the incumbent political order. In particular, we focus on the intellectuals’ production and intellectuals’ activity. To do this, we address in turn the questions of who can be considered an intell…
Framing Terrorism in Bangladesh
This article critically examines the enduring West‐centric and state‐centric nature of terrorism scholarship and counterterrorism strategies in Bangladesh, which perpetuate the Islam‐terrorism discourse while neglecting the country's unique socio‐political context. Drawing on postcolonial theory and Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS), the research adduces how existing frameworks prioritize state security and external narratives, overlooking critica…
Barriers to Interfaith Dialogue
This study examines why Islamic scholars in Bangladesh participate only minimally in interfaith dialogue despite Islam's theological resources for plural coexistence. Drawing on semi‐structured interviews with twenty Islamic scholars and fifteen experts, the article analyses barriers to engagement through the combined lenses of Jürgen Habermas's theory of communicative action and Islamic theology of pluralism. Findings reveal a dual pathology: (1…
Redefining gender roles
South Asia has witnessed a surge in jihadist activity, with Al-Qaeda (AQ) and the Islamic State (IS) making significant inroads into the region. Their presence has reshaped terrorism dynamics, notably by involving women in jihadism. AQ and IS have leveraged social media to attract both male and female recruits, with a particular focus on the latter. Through a thematic network analysis of online magazines like Azan, Resurgence, Dabiq, Rumiyah, Ins…
Electoral Failure of Political Islam
This article investigates why the Jamaat-e-Islami of Bangladesh (JIB), the largest Islamist political party in South Asia, has been failing to achieve electoral success since 1991, despite their strong Islamist ideology. In fact, the party’s vote share has decreased from its highest point in 1991 to its lowest in 2008. The article, drafted before the recent dramatic political events in Bangladesh, argues that while JIB remains active, the scope f…
Understanding complex causes of suicidal behaviour among graduates in Bangladesh
This study utilizes both fieldwork and desk-based discourse analysis of newspaper reports to investigate the concerning number of suicides among graduates in Bangladesh. According to some reports, a majority of suicide cases involve young adults who are either currently studying at university or have recently completed their degree (between the ages of 20 and 32). This research contends that patriarchal social expectations in Bangladesh place sig…
Female radicalisation in Bangladesh
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the intricate dynamics surrounding female involvement in jihadism in Bangladesh. Drawing on expert interviews and surveys, the study uncovers a multifaceted picture of this phenomenon. Three distinct categories of factors – push, pull, and facilitating – emerge as central in explaining the surge in female participation within militant groups in the region. Push factors, which encompass grievances …
Prison radicalization
Prison radicalization poses a significant and evolving threat in Bangladesh's correctional facilities. This research article delves into the conditions fostering radicalization, including corruption, overcrowding, violence, and the lack of essential amenities. Drawing on extensive analysis of secondary data and expert interviews, this article argues that these conducive conditions have transformed Bangladeshi prisons into breeding grounds for rad…
Ideological alliances
Faith Leaders and Child Well-Being in Bangladesh
The article examines four key areas affecting child well-being in Bangladesh: child marriage, violence against children, child education, and child health. The research for this article was conducted through fieldwork, including surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and expert consultations. Despite the prevailing perception that religion hinders progress, this article argues that social and economic factors play a more sign…
Why Women Get Divorced in Bangladesh
Globally, marriage breakup or divorce has become a significant issue, and Bangladesh is no exception. The divorce rate among urban women has dramatically increased in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka City. This study aims to uncover the factors contributing to the rising divorce rate among women in Dhaka. Utilizing desk-based research and expert interviews, it critically examines the causes of marriage breakdown. The study argues that industrial…
Dynamics of Violent Extremism in South Asia
This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted dimensions of violent extremist groups in South Asia
Covid-19 and the Clash of Narratives
This paper discusses the impact of Covid-19 on Islamist narratives of end time scenarios that predict the annihilation of a corrupted world and its ultimate replacement by a world order based exclusively on Islam. It does this against the backdrop of Islam’s antagonistic relationship with the West, particularly from the ending of the Cold War in the early 1990s to the present day, a relationship conducted within the shadow of the US’s attempts to…
The Diverse Roles of Bangladesh’s Diaspora Communities in Jihadism
Diaspora radicalisation has increasingly become a source of major concern for home and host countries, especially with technology facilitating easier communication with the global village. The popular perception used to be that expatriates were less vulnerable to radicalisation, but this paper argues that in reality the scenario is completely different. Using a desk-based literature review and interviews in Dhaka, and focusing on the Bangladeshi …
Jama'at‐e‐Islami and Trust Building in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is the third‐largest Muslim country in the world where Islamic ideals inherently influence people's thought and actions. One of the Islamist political parties that has been trying to influence the Bangladeshi population is the Jama'at‐e‐Islami (JeI). The JeI is one of the oldest and largest Islamist political parties in the country and has continuously exerted its influence on the social ethos and state policy. JeI's unconditional supp…
Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism in Bangladesh
We examine the changing nature of an authoritarian regime, which is emerging from the social and political conditions shaped by the unconsolidated democracy in Bangladesh. Drawing on desk-based research combined with interviews from the field, we argue that the current form of the authoritarian regime in Bangladesh represents the characteristics of competitive authoritarianism. We find that authoritarianism in Bangladesh combines “election manipu…
Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism in Bangladesh—Erratum
Islam Beyond Borders
Islam Beyond Borders: The Umma in World Politics. By James Piscatori and Amin Saikal Islam Beyond Borders: The Umma in World Politics. By James Piscatori and Amin Saikal. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2019. 224pp. $89.99. Shafi Md Mostofa Shafi Md Mostofa University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and University of New England, Australia Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Armidale, Australia Email: [email protected] Search for other works by this author on: Oxfor…
Understanding Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh
Challenges from Islamist militants have been an integral part of Bangladesh's political landscape since the 1980s. Islamist militancy has passed through different phases of silent and active forms, drawing inspiration from conflicts in Libya, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. A vast literature has dealt with Islamist militancy in Bangladesh, but very few works have shed light on who the Bangladeshi Islamist militants are and how they radica…
Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism in Bangladesh
We examine the changing nature of an authoritarian regime, which is emerging from the social and political conditions shaped by the unconsolidated democracy in Bangladesh. Drawing on desk-based research combined with interviews from the field, we argue that the current form of the authoritarian regime in Bangladesh represents the characteristics of competitive authoritarianism. We find that authoritarianism in Bangladesh combines “election manipu…
Understanding Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh
Challenges from Islamist militants have been an integral part of Bangladesh's political landscape since the 1980s. Islamist militancy has passed through different phases of silent and active forms, drawing inspiration from conflicts in Libya, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. A vast literature has dealt with Islamist militancy in Bangladesh, but very few works have shed light on who the Bangladeshi Islamist militants are and how they radica…
Jama'at‐e‐Islami and Trust Building in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is the third‐largest Muslim country in the world where Islamic ideals inherently influence people's thought and actions. One of the Islamist political parties that has been trying to influence the Bangladeshi population is the Jama'at‐e‐Islami (JeI). The JeI is one of the oldest and largest Islamist political parties in the country and has continuously exerted its influence on the social ethos and state policy. JeI's unconditional supp…
Why Women Get Divorced in Bangladesh
Globally, marriage breakup or divorce has become a significant issue, and Bangladesh is no exception. The divorce rate among urban women has dramatically increased in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka City. This study aims to uncover the factors contributing to the rising divorce rate among women in Dhaka. Utilizing desk-based research and expert interviews, it critically examines the causes of marriage breakdown. The study argues that industrial…
Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism in Bangladesh—Erratum
Jama'at‐e‐Islami and Trust Building in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is the third‐largest Muslim country in the world where Islamic ideals inherently influence people's thought and actions. One of the Islamist political parties that has been trying to influence the Bangladeshi population is the Jama'at‐e‐Islami (JeI). The JeI is one of the oldest and largest Islamist political parties in the country and has continuously exerted its influence on the social ethos and state policy. JeI's unconditional supp…
Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism in Bangladesh
We examine the changing nature of an authoritarian regime, which is emerging from the social and political conditions shaped by the unconsolidated democracy in Bangladesh. Drawing on desk-based research combined with interviews from the field, we argue that the current form of the authoritarian regime in Bangladesh represents the characteristics of competitive authoritarianism. We find that authoritarianism in Bangladesh combines “election manipu…
Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism in Bangladesh—Erratum
Islam Beyond Borders
Islam Beyond Borders: The Umma in World Politics. By James Piscatori and Amin Saikal Islam Beyond Borders: The Umma in World Politics. By James Piscatori and Amin Saikal. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2019. 224pp. $89.99. Shafi Md Mostofa Shafi Md Mostofa University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and University of New England, Australia Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Armidale, Australia Email: [email protected] Search for other works by this author on: Oxfor…
Understanding Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh
Challenges from Islamist militants have been an integral part of Bangladesh's political landscape since the 1980s. Islamist militancy has passed through different phases of silent and active forms, drawing inspiration from conflicts in Libya, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. A vast literature has dealt with Islamist militancy in Bangladesh, but very few works have shed light on who the Bangladeshi Islamist militants are and how they radica…
The Diverse Roles of Bangladesh’s Diaspora Communities in Jihadism
Diaspora radicalisation has increasingly become a source of major concern for home and host countries, especially with technology facilitating easier communication with the global village. The popular perception used to be that expatriates were less vulnerable to radicalisation, but this paper argues that in reality the scenario is completely different. Using a desk-based literature review and interviews in Dhaka, and focusing on the Bangladeshi …
Dynamics of Violent Extremism in South Asia
This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted dimensions of violent extremist groups in South Asia
Covid-19 and the Clash of Narratives
This paper discusses the impact of Covid-19 on Islamist narratives of end time scenarios that predict the annihilation of a corrupted world and its ultimate replacement by a world order based exclusively on Islam. It does this against the backdrop of Islam’s antagonistic relationship with the West, particularly from the ending of the Cold War in the early 1990s to the present day, a relationship conducted within the shadow of the US’s attempts to…
Understanding complex causes of suicidal behaviour among graduates in Bangladesh
This study utilizes both fieldwork and desk-based discourse analysis of newspaper reports to investigate the concerning number of suicides among graduates in Bangladesh. According to some reports, a majority of suicide cases involve young adults who are either currently studying at university or have recently completed their degree (between the ages of 20 and 32). This research contends that patriarchal social expectations in Bangladesh place sig…
Female radicalisation in Bangladesh
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the intricate dynamics surrounding female involvement in jihadism in Bangladesh. Drawing on expert interviews and surveys, the study uncovers a multifaceted picture of this phenomenon. Three distinct categories of factors – push, pull, and facilitating – emerge as central in explaining the surge in female participation within militant groups in the region. Push factors, which encompass grievances …
Prison radicalization
Prison radicalization poses a significant and evolving threat in Bangladesh's correctional facilities. This research article delves into the conditions fostering radicalization, including corruption, overcrowding, violence, and the lack of essential amenities. Drawing on extensive analysis of secondary data and expert interviews, this article argues that these conducive conditions have transformed Bangladeshi prisons into breeding grounds for rad…
Ideological alliances
Faith Leaders and Child Well-Being in Bangladesh
The article examines four key areas affecting child well-being in Bangladesh: child marriage, violence against children, child education, and child health. The research for this article was conducted through fieldwork, including surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and expert consultations. Despite the prevailing perception that religion hinders progress, this article argues that social and economic factors play a more sign…
Why Women Get Divorced in Bangladesh
Globally, marriage breakup or divorce has become a significant issue, and Bangladesh is no exception. The divorce rate among urban women has dramatically increased in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka City. This study aims to uncover the factors contributing to the rising divorce rate among women in Dhaka. Utilizing desk-based research and expert interviews, it critically examines the causes of marriage breakdown. The study argues that industrial…
Electoral Failure of Political Islam
This article investigates why the Jamaat-e-Islami of Bangladesh (JIB), the largest Islamist political party in South Asia, has been failing to achieve electoral success since 1991, despite their strong Islamist ideology. In fact, the party’s vote share has decreased from its highest point in 1991 to its lowest in 2008. The article, drafted before the recent dramatic political events in Bangladesh, argues that while JIB remains active, the scope f…
Incipient Intellectuals and Revolutionary Mobilization
In July 2024, Bangladesh experienced a large-scale, cross-ideological student mobilization that unfolded without visible charismatic leadership or formal organizational command. This article explores how such a broad-based uprising became possible in a political environment characterized by coercive campus governance, ideological fragmentation, and deep mistrust of established student organizations. Drawing on a qualitative, interpretive case-stu…
Cattivi Maestri
In this introduction to the Special Issue, we lay out the main lines of inquiry that guide our study. The main question addressed is the role of intellectuals in episodes of radical political mobilization, that is actions bent on challenging or upending the incumbent political order. In particular, we focus on the intellectuals’ production and intellectuals’ activity. To do this, we address in turn the questions of who can be considered an intell…
Framing Terrorism in Bangladesh
This article critically examines the enduring West‐centric and state‐centric nature of terrorism scholarship and counterterrorism strategies in Bangladesh, which perpetuate the Islam‐terrorism discourse while neglecting the country's unique socio‐political context. Drawing on postcolonial theory and Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS), the research adduces how existing frameworks prioritize state security and external narratives, overlooking critica…
Barriers to Interfaith Dialogue
This study examines why Islamic scholars in Bangladesh participate only minimally in interfaith dialogue despite Islam's theological resources for plural coexistence. Drawing on semi‐structured interviews with twenty Islamic scholars and fifteen experts, the article analyses barriers to engagement through the combined lenses of Jürgen Habermas's theory of communicative action and Islamic theology of pluralism. Findings reveal a dual pathology: (1…
Redefining gender roles
South Asia has witnessed a surge in jihadist activity, with Al-Qaeda (AQ) and the Islamic State (IS) making significant inroads into the region. Their presence has reshaped terrorism dynamics, notably by involving women in jihadism. AQ and IS have leveraged social media to attract both male and female recruits, with a particular focus on the latter. Through a thematic network analysis of online magazines like Azan, Resurgence, Dabiq, Rumiyah, Ins…
Political science (14 works) · Politics (13 works) · Sociology (13 works) · Law (12 works) · Bangladesh Politics, Society, and Development (11 works) · Law (9 works) · Ideology (7 works) · Islam (7 works) · Terrorism (7 works) · Political economy (6 works)