Department of Folklore and Social Development Studies

DR. MOBARRA SIDDIQUA PROFESSOR MA (CU), PhD( IBS,RU) Research Interest: Gender and Folkloristics, Women Studies, Folk Narratives and Ethnic Studies, Traditional Knowledge Email Address: mobarra@ru.ac.bd Details
DR. MD. AKHTAR HOSSAIN PROFESSOR M.Sc. (Raj), PhD (Raj) Research Interest: Not Provided Email Address: drakhterfolklore@gmail.com Details
DR. MOSTOFA TAREQUL AHSAN PROFESSOR MA (RU), PhD (Institute of Bangladesh Studies, RU) Research Interest: Oral Folkloristics, International Folkloristics, Performing Folkloristics, Traditional Knowledge, Sociolinguistics, Ethnic Studies, Cultural Studies Email Address: na Details
SUSMITA CHAKRABARTI PROFESSOR Research Interest: Not Provided Email Address: chaka_66@yahoo.com Details
DR. MD. JAHANGIR HOSSAIN PROFESSOR M.A. (Raj), Phd (Raj) Research Interest: Not Provided Email Address: jhossain_ru@yahoo.com, jhossainfolk@ru.ac.bd Details
DR. ANUPAM HERA MONDAL PROFESSOR MA (RAJ), PhD (RAJ) RU Research Interest: Not Provided Email Address: ruanupam@gmail.com Details
DR. MD. ROWSHON JAHID PROFESSOR M.A (RAJ), PhD (RAJ), POST DOC (UGC) Research Interest: Not Provided Email Address: rowshonjahid@gmail.com Details
UDAY SHANKER BISWAS PROFESSOR MA (RAJ), PhD (IBS) RU Research Interest: Not Provided Email Address: udayfolklore@gmail.com Details
MD ABDULLAH AL MAMUN, PhD PROFESSOR PhD in Human Geography, Climate Economics, and Urban Planning (Western Sydney University, Australia) I Master of Economics (Research) in Economic Development and Policy (Kobe University, Japan) I Master of Arts (Thesis) in Folklore (and Social Development) Studies (University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh) I Research Interest: Dr Abdullah Al Mamun is a Professor of Folklore and Social Development Studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. He is a multidisciplinary academic with experience at Kobe University in Japan and at Western Sydney University, the University of Wollongong, and UTS in Australia. His work integrates human geography, urban planning, climate economics, and social policy, focusing on the intersections of climate change, inequality, and urbanisation in the Global South. He earned his PhD in 2025 from Western Sydney University, where he examined how climate stressors and rapid urbanisation shape vulnerability, ecosystem degradation, and climate injustice. Using mixed methods and a human welfare lens, he advances community-led, nature-positive urban planning, participatory governance, and socioecological economic strategies to enhance urban resilience, revitalise heritage economies, and support climate sustainability. He obtained a Master of Economics (Research) from Kobe University, Japan, in 2016, where he used IV and system GMM in a longitudinal study to examine the impact of foreign aid on economic growth in developing nations. His research also encompassed social business policies, community economies, and local entrepreneurship models. He holds an MA in Folklore (and Social Development) Studies from the University of Rajshahi, awarded in 2003, with a focus on sustainable development through local craftsmanship and small-scale entrepreneurship. He has strong methodological expertise in STATA, R, NVivo, MAXQDA, ArcGIS, and participatory approaches such as PRA, PUA and PAR. His publications appear in leading journals, and he has contributed to applied research on sustainable fashion systems, low-carbon concrete, and renewable energy microgrids. He also served as Associate Editor of IJCCSM and co-edited a 2024 special issue on the circular economy and climate change. With over 20 years of tertiary teaching experience, he specialises in economics, geography and planning, and folklore and social development studies, with an emphasis on critical, inclusive, and experiential learning. ©©©©©©© Research Interests: His research spans social design and innovation for community development; equity, inclusion, and social justice; and social impact evaluation. He examines community welfare, social protection, social equity, community planning and resilience, health and wellbeing, and planetary health, as well as cultural intelligence, folklore, and social policy. His work further explores heritage and place-based development, economic and development geography, social and spatial inequality, sustainable urban planning, climate change economics, urban systems, and health economics—advancing inclusive, evidence-based, and community-driven development. Email Address: mamun(AT)ru(DOT)ac(DOT)bd. Please replace “(AT)” with “@” and “(DOT)” with “(.)” when sending email. Details
PROFESSOR DR. MD. AMIRUL ISLAM Professor A Critical Study of Professor Dr. Md. Amirul Islam (Kanak PK) : Professor Dr. Md. Amirul Islam / Kanak Amirul Islam/ Amirul Islam Kanak/ Kanak Islam/ Amir Pramanik (Kanak Pramanik) is a Bangladeshi folklorist, novelist, poet, and cultural theorist whose work bridges creative literature and academic research. His promotion to Full Professor signifies institutional recognition of his interdisciplinary contributions. This short Introduction critically examines his novel Chandragharbha, poetry collection Sheshrater Bhanga Puran, and research monographs Madarpirer Gan: Alochona O Sangroho and Bangladesher Gajir Gan. Special emphasis is placed on Chandragarbha as a historically grounded ecofeminist novel situated in ancient Bengal during the transitional phase from Pala to Sena rule, incorporating the life and philosophical legacy of Atīśa Dīpaṅkara Śrījñāna. The study argues that Amirul Islam articulates an alternative historiography where women’s psychology, ecological consciousness, and folk spirituality function as counter-narratives to political and religious hegemonies. Professor Dr. MD. Amirul Islam is the current Student Advisor of Rajshahi University and full time Professor at Department of folklore and social development studies, under the faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Rajshahi (RU) in Bangladesh. Dr. Islam received his undergraduate degree as well as his BA (hons) & Post graduate (Master) degree in folklore from University of Rajshahi – BD, and his PhD Under the faculty of Social Sciences from University of Rajshahi – Bangladesh. Research Interest: Folklore, Tangible and Intangible Cultural heritage, aesthetics, art history, literature, philosophy and social sciences. Specially interested in Neuro folklore, Maritime folklore and Enclave exclave folklore Email Address: pkkanak@ru.ac.bd ; Kanakpkru@gmail.com ; PKKanak(AT)ru(DOT)ac(DOT)bd; Kanakpkru(AT)gmail(DOT)com, Please replace “(AT)” with “@” and “(DOT)” with “(.)” when sending email. Details
DR. ROTON KUMAR Professor MA (Thesis) in Folklore (RU), PhD in Folklore (RU) Research Interest: Indegenious Culture & Knowledge, Folk Life & Culture, Folk Art & Artisan Email Address: rotonfolklore@ru.ac.bd And rotonfolklore@gmail.com Details
DR. MD HABIBUR RAHMAN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MA (Raj), PhD (Raj), Visiting Scholar, New York University (USA). ITEC Scholar, NIRD&PR, Hyderabad, India. Dr. Md Habibur Rahman is widely recognized as one of Bangladesh’s leading folklorists, cultural anthropologists, community and development specialists, with an outstanding record of international scholarship, academic leadership, and socio-cultural research. Holding MA and PhD degrees from Rajshahi University, he has established himself as a prominent voice in folklore, cultural heritage, indigenous knowledge systems, sustainable development, and cultural resilience studies. His international academic engagements include serving as a visiting Scholar at New York University (USA, 2022) and as an ITEC Fellow at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) (India, 2016). These appointments reflect his global academic stand and active contribution to intercultural research and international knowledge exchange. Dr. Rahman is the author of 53 scholarly publications published in national and international journals, edited volumes, and conference proceedings. His research significantly contributes to the fields of folklore, cultural anthropology, indigenous knowledge, social transformation, and sustainable community development. Through his academic work, he has become a distinguished Bangladeshi scholar farming local knowledge traditions within global intellectual discourse. An academic accomplished leader and public intellectual, Dr. Rahman has delivered keynote speeches, chaired international conferences, sessions and organized global academic forums on folklore, culture, and development studies. His consistently work bridges academic research with grassroots realities, positioning him as a leading advocate for culturally grounded and people-centered development in Bangladesh and beyond. In addition to his achievements, he has held important leadership and administrative positions, including serving as Provost of Sher-e-Bangla Hall at Rajshahi (2022–2024) and Vice Principal of SOS Hermann Gmeiner College under SOS Children's Village International. He has also worked with Transparency International Bangladesh, COAST Foundation, and other development organizations, massive gains in academic, administration, social engagement, project leadership, and policy-oriented initiative development. His contributions to international education, cultural research, and community development have earned him several prestigious recognitions, the SUSI scholarship (USA, 2022), the ITEC Fellowship (India, 2016), and the Margaret Mead Award from MIAS at New York University (2022). Areas of Expertise: Folklore Studies, Cultural Anthropology, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Community Development, Sustainable Development, Intercultural Communication, Academic Leadership, Collaboration, Social Work, and International Program Management. Research Interest: Folklore, Social Development, Cultural Anthropology, Gender, Poverty, NGO Activities Email Address: habibur.rahmanfolk@ru.ac.bd Details
FARJANA RAHMAN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Research Interest: Not Provided Email Address: farjanamoni.ru@gmail.com Details
SABIHA YEASMIN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Research Interest: Not Provided Email Address: na Details
Dr. Md. Ershadul Haque Assistant Professor M.S.S (RU), PhD (RU) Research Interest: Not Provided Email Address: ershad.folk@ru.ac.bd Details
MST. AYESHA AKHTAR Lecturer Research Interest: Not Provided Email Address: ayesha.folk@ru.ac.bd Details