Faculty Profile

AFM Zakaria

Professor

Contact Information

  • Office Address: Professor Institute of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh
  • Phone: +8801756464646
  • Email: zakaria-anp@sust.edu, afmanp@gmail.com

Biography

Since 2004 AFM Zakaria has been serving as a permanent faculty at the department of anthropology, and in 2020 he was promoted to a permanent Professor in the same department. He received his MSS in Anthropology with distinction from the same University. In 2015, he got a Graduate Scholarship and Research Assistantship to complete his second Masters in Environmental Policy from Memorial University, Canada, researching environmental subject-making in Sylhet. Prof. Zakaria’s graduate training focused on health politics, political ecology, global environmental governance, and social movement. He served as the anthropology department's student advisor from 2018 to 2020. He also serves as advisor of Cha Sramik Sikharthi Kolyan Tahbil, Tea Labor Rights, Sylhet. He is dedicated to helping communities/groups/individuals improve their quality of life by identifying their assets, needs and opportunities, rights, responsibilities, and how/which way they feel comfortable to reach their destination.

Education

  • Master of Arts, Environmental Policy, Memorial University, NL, Canada
  • Master of Social Science, Anthropology, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Research Interests

  • Cultural Politics of Environmental Development and Governmentality
  • Biosecurity and Bioethics
  • Ethnicity, Domesticity and Coloniality
  • Political Ecology of Wetland Management
  • Social Movements and Peoples of the Borderland
  • Structural Violence and Health Politics

Active Research Project

  • Principal Investigator, 2021-2023, A Qualitative Investigation into the Reproductive Healthcare Seeking Behavior in The Rural Villages of Sunamganj District, with A Focus on the Pandemic Crisis. Contact Person: Prof. Saiful Islam, Director, University Research Centre, SUST
  • Principal Investigator, 2022-2023, A qualitative exploration into the everyday lives of pregnant women in a slum of Sylhet City: What policy implementers and program planners should know!, Contact Person: Prof. Saiful Islam, Director, University Research Centre, SUST

Previous Research Project

  • Principal Investigator, 2019-2020, Understanding the ‘Host’ and ‘Guest’ Dynamics: A Study on the Effects of Rohingya Influx on the People of Palongkhali Union in Ukhiya, Bangladesh, Financed by UGC and Research Centre, SUST Contact Person: Prof. Zakir Hossain, Director, University Research Centre, SUST
  • Consultant, 2019-2019, An Assessment to Identify Maternal and Neonatal Health Service Gap/Barriers to Strengthen the Facility at the Tea Garden area of Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study, Partner in Health Development (PHD), Save the Children, UNICEF Contact Person: Md. Nashir Uddin Faruq, Email: n-faruq@phd-bd.com
  • Co-Investigator, 2018-2019, ‘Situation and Mapping of Basic Social Services for Children and Women in the Urban Slum of Sylhet City Corporation’, Commissioned by UNICEF, Bangladesh and Sylhet City Corporation Contact Person: Syeedul Hoque Milky
  • Principal Investigator, 2018-2019, Ordering the Border: An Inspection into the Role of Lauwaghar-Balat Border Haat on the Bangladesh-India Border Management, Financed by UGC and Research Centre, SUST. Contact Person: Prof. Zakir Hossain, Director, University Research Centre, SUST
  • Principal Investigator, 2017-2018, Arguing with Environmentalists: Understanding the Nature and Dynamics of Environmental Government and Movements around Ratargul Swamp Forest of Sylhet, Bangladesh, Financed by UGC and Research Centre, SUST. Contact Person: Prof. Zakir Hossain, Director, University Research Centre, SUST
  • Team Member, 2017-2018, Evaluation of a2i Projects in Sylhet, Commissioned by a2i Program, Prime Minister Office, Bangladesh Contact Person: Dr. Nur Mohammad Majumder
  • Principal Investigator, 2016-17, An Application of Structural Decision Making Process into the Forestry Sector of Sylhet, Bangladesh, Financed by UGC and Research Centre, SUST Contact Person: Prof. Zakir Hossain, Director, University Research Centre, SUST
  • Principal Investigator, 2013-14, Community Perspectives on Community based Ecotourism: A Case Study in Lawachara National Park in Sylhet, Bangladesh, Financed by Research Centre, SUST Contact Person: Prof. Zakir Hossain, Director, University Research Centre, SUST Principal Investigator, 2012-13, Impact of Urbanization on Environment: Evidence from Sylhet
  • Principal Investigator, 2012-13, Impact of Urbanization on Environment: Evidence from Sylhet City Corporation, Bangladesh, Financed by Research Centre, SUST Contact Person: Prof. Kobir Hossain, Director, University Research Centre, SUST
  • Principal Investigator, 2020-2021, A Qualitative Study on the Conditions and Challenges Related to Maternal and Neonatal Health Services at Lovachora Tea Garden Area of Kanaighat, Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • Coordinator, Sylhet Part, 2019-2021, Biocultural Resources and Climate Change: Assessing the Vulnerability and Resilience of Small Ethnic Communities in Bangladesh, Administered by Ministry of Education, Government of Bangladesh
  • Focal Person/Consultant, 2018 to date, Monitoring and Advising the Activities of Anthropology Graduate Team’s in USAID/UJJIBAN Project, Bangladesh Contact Person: Patrick Coleman

Journal Publish

  • 1. A qualitative exploration of purchasing, stockpiling, and use of drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban city of Bangladesh
  • 2. History and Educational Philosophy for Social Justice and Human Rights
  • 3. Mia, C and Zakaria, AFM. (2022).Activism and political opportunity: Environmental management on the move in Sylhet City,
  • 4. Zakaria, A. F. M. (2020). An Application of Structured Decision Making Process in Approaching Deforestation and Promoting Sustainable Forest Management of Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • 5. Zakaria, AFM., Taj, T.N., and Rahman, J. K (2020). Politics with the Official Recognition of Hijra Community: An Insight into the ‘New Gender Category’ in Bangladesh from Neoliberal Outlooks
  • 6. Jahan, M. K. and Zakaria, AFM. (2019). Environmental Movement and the Conservation of Forest: A Case Study on Ratargul Swamp Forest of Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • 7. Zakaria. AFM. and Mia, C. (2019). People of the Margin: An Inspection into the Condition of Burkey Labors of Bholaganj, Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • 8. Zakaria. AFM. and Majumder. N.M. (2019). Are Khasis of Bangladesh Eco-Friendly Agro Manager? Reflections on Hill Farming Practices and Forest Conservation
  • 9. Ismail, I. and Zakaria, AFM. (2019). Dantean and Sedgwickian Examination of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four: Truth Weaved in the Thread of Falsehood
  • 10. Zakaria, AFM, and Siddiqua, R. (2018). Governing Forest through Standardization and certification: Understanding the Politics of Neoliberal Governance of Forestry Stewardship Council
  • 11. Majumder, N.M., Zakaria, A.F.M, Rahman, M.M and Haider, M.U (2018). Modernity and Ethnic Dynamics: A Study on Khasi Ethnic Community of North-East Bangladesh
  • 12. Zakaria, AFM. (2018). Politics of Inclusion and Ecological Modernization: Insight into the UNREED+ Program of Bangladesh
  • 13. Zakaria, AFM. (2016). Space of Domesticity and Coloniality into the Life-world of Indigenous People in Bangladesh: An Examination of Forest Policy and Forestry Master Plan
  • 14. Haider, M. M., and Zakaria, A. F. M. (2015). Everyday Struggles and Adaptive Strategies: A Snapshot on the Impact of Climate Change over the Livelihoods in Hail Haor
  • 15. Rahman, M. M., Rahman, H. M., Zakaria, A. F. M., and Haider, M. M. (2015). Street Children: Survival on the Extreme Margins of Human Life
  • 16. Zakaria, A.F.M., and Rahman, M. M. (2014). Encountering the Discourse ‘Islamphobia’: Living in the New World Order
  • 17. Subramaniam, J., Majumder, N. M., Hatta, Z. A, and Zakaria, A. F. M. (2014). Implications of Enforced Disappearances on Women Headed Families in the Northern Province, Srilanka
  • 18. Haque, J. M., and Zakaria, A.F.M. (2014). Challenges of Public Management in Global South
  • 19. Chowdhury, I. A., Zakaria, A. F. M., Islam, M. N., & Akter, S. (2013). Social Capital and Resource Conservation in “Community Based Haor Resource Management (CBHRM) Project”: A Case from Bangladesh
  • 20. Alom, M. and M., Zakaria, A.F.M. (2013). A Probit Estimation of Urban Bases of Environmental Awareness: Evidence from Sylhet City, Bangladesh
  • 21. Ismail, I.I,. and Zakaria, A.F.M. (2013). David Lurie’s Identity: The Dog Man in Coetzee’s Disgrace, Anthropologist
  • 22. Zakaria, A.F.M., and Chowdhury, Z.S. (2006). The Muslim Monipury: The Making and Meaning of Contested Identities. In Anthropology on the Move: Contextualizing Culture Studies in Bangladesh

External Affiliations

  • 2020 to present, Member of the American Anthropological Association (AAA, USA)
  • 2016 to Present, Member of the Environmental Studies Association Canada (ESAC)
  • 2015-Present, Secretary/Member, Anthropology Alumni Association, SUST, Bangladesh
  • 2015-Present, General Member, Memorial University Alumni Association, Canada
  • 2015 to Present, Member of the Institute of Applied Anthropology, Bangladesh
  • 2016 to Present, Executive Member of the Institute of Social Research and Applied Anthropology (ISRAA)
  • 2014-Present, Editorial Member, JWHSD, Worldwide Holistic Sustainable Development Cooperation
  • 2012-present, Editorial Member, Anthropologist, Department of Anthropology, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Bangladesh
  • 2018-2019, Adjunct Faculty, AIBA, Sylhet
  • 2017-2019, Adjunct Faculty, Metropolitan University, Sylhet
  • 2020-present, Reviewer, Palgrave MacMillan Publications

Awards & Recognition

  • 2020-2021, Research Grant, UGC/Research Centre, SUST
  • 2019-2020, Research Grant, UGC/Research Centre, SUST
  • 2018-2019, Research Grant, UNICEF, Bangladesh
  • 2017-2018, Research Grant, a2i Program, Prime Minister Office, Bangladesh
  • 2018-2019, Research Grant, UGC/Research Centre, SUST
  • 2011-2012, Research Grant, FIVDB, Sylhet, Bangladesh
  • 2012-2013, Research Grant, UGC/Research Centre, SUST
  • 2013-2014, Research Grant, UGC/Research Centre, SUST
  • 2014-2015, International Entrance Scholarship (Denied), Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
  • 2014-2015, University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (Denied), Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
  • 2014-2015, Memorial University Graduate Student Fellowship, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Memorial University, NL, Canada
  • 2016-2017, Research Grant, UGC/Research Centre, SUST
  • 2017-2018, Research Grant, UGC/Research Centre, SUST
  • 2007, Book Prize, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet
  • 2007, Vice Chancellor Medal, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet
  • 2021-2023, Research Grant, UGC/Research Centre, SUST
  • 2022-2023, Research Grant, UGC/Research Centre, SUST
  • 2023-2025, Research Grant, UGC/Research Centre, SUST

Teaching

  • Introduction to Anthropology
  • Social Thought
  • Environment, Society and Culture
  • Recent Trends in Anthropological Theories
  • Development and Beyond

Graduate Supervision

  • M. Phil. Research Supervision: 1
  • MSS Thesis Research Supervision: Competed 8, Continue 2
  • MSS General Research Supervision: Competed 70
  • BSS Research Supervision: Completed 90, Continue 6