Experience in Editing Journals

1. Currently serving as a member of the editorial board of Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science.
2.  Currently serving as a member of the editorial board of Bangladesh Journal of Regional Science

Papers Presented at Conferences/Seminars/Workshops:

1. Wardatul Akmam. “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” Paper presented as keynote speaker of the Seminar on Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow, organized by Rural Development Academy, Bogura on March 8, 2022 (International Women’s Day).

2. Wardatul Akmam. “Changes in Primary Education related Situation in Rural Bangladesh: A Case Study of Kathalbari Village.” Paper presented at the 3rd Annual Conference on Regional Science (ACRS 3) 2021, (virtual) held on 29-31 October, 2020.

3. Ety Rani Saha and Wardatul Akmam. “Incidence of Early Marriage Induced Girl Dropouts at Secondary Level in Bangladesh: A Study of Bharsho Village in Naogaon District.” Paper presented at the 3rd Annual Conference on Regional Science (ACRS 3) 2021, (virtual) held on 29-31 October, 2021.

4. Wardatul Akmam and Md. Fakrul Islam. “Contemporary Public Health Situation in Rural Bangladesh”. Paper presented at The Ninth International Public Health & Bioethics Ambassador Conference (Virtual) held on 4 September, 2020.

5. Wardatul Akmam and Md. Fakrul Islam. “Maintenance of Physical Distance to Prevent COVID-19: A Glimpse at Bangladesh.” Paper presented at The First International Public Health Ambassador Conference (Virtual), held on 28 March, 2020.

6. Wardatul Akmam. “Covid-19 Pandemic as a Public Health Concern: A Sociological Perspective.” Paper presented at the International Webinar on ‘Reality & Hope in the Pandemic Phase: An Interdisciplinary Approach’, jointly organized by the Department of Sociology & IQAC of Surya Sen Mahavidyalaya, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India held on 22 August, 2020.

7. Rafiza Khatun and Wardatul Akmam. “Impact of Socio-economic Condition on Academic Achievement at Junior Secondary Level: A Gender Based Study of Two Schools in Khulna District, Bangladesh.” Paper presented at Conference on Prospects and Challenges of Sustainable Development in Developing Countries, organized by the Faculty of Social Science, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

8. Wardatul Akmam and Md. Fakrul Islam. “Desires of Parents regarding Gender of Children:  Study of a Village in Northern Bangladesh.” Paper presented at 5^th National Seminar on Inequality, Social Justice and Integration in Bangladesh organized by ISRAA and Dept. of Anthropology, University of Rajshahi in collaboration with Ashroi held at Ashrai Research and Training Center, Rajshahi during 8-9 February, 2019.

9. Wardatul Akmam. “Empowerment among Santal and Oraon Women in Godagari Upazila of Rajshahi District, Bangladesh: A Comparison.” Paper presented at Annual Conference of the Bangladesh Regional Science Association (BRSA) held at BUET, Dhaka during October 25-26, 2018.

10. Wardatul Akmam, Sheikh Mohammad Kais, Md. Shafikuzzaman Joarder and Md. Nazmul Hoque. “Assessing Secondary Level Academic Achievement of Students at a Tertiary Education Organization (TEO): The Case of University of Rajshahi.” Paper presented at Annual Conference of the Bangladesh Regional Science Association (BRSA), held at BUET, Dhaka during October 25-26, 2018. 

11. Wardatul Akmam. “Women’s Participation in Environmental Protection and Sustainable Agricultural Development: A Micro-level Study in Two Villages in Bangladesh and Japan.” Paper presented at a seminar at the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan on 22 February, 2018.

12. Wardatul Akmam, Zulfiquar Ali Islam, Shafikuzzaman Joarder, and Nazmul Hoque. “State of Imparting Education in the Department of Sociology, University of Rajshahi: Challenges and Opportunities.” A paper presented at the seminar organized during observance of Golden Jubilee of the Department of Sociology, University of Rajshahi on 25 February, 2016.

13. Wardatul Akmam. “Issues and Concerns Related to Submitting Papers for Publication in Social Science Journal.” A paper presented at a workshop on Writing Quality Research Papers for Publication in Journals” organized by the Faculty of Social Science, University of Rajshahi for young teachers of the faculty on August 30, 2015.

14. Wardatul Akmam and Md. Fakrul Islam. “Social Aspects of Environmental Protection.” Paper presented at Intensive Training Workshop on Bioethics and Research: Preparing Ethical Professionals, convened by the Bangladesh Bioethics Society; American University of Sovereign Nations (AUSN) and Eubios Ethics Institute, at the Institute of Public health, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2-4 January, 2015.

15. Wardatul Akmam. Role of Sociologists in the Education Sector: Bangladesh Scenario. Paper presented at the Conference on Role of the Sociologists in National Development, organized by the Department of Sociology and Sociology Alumni Association, February 28 and 01 March 2013.

16. Wardatul Akmam, Sharmim Nahar and Mahejabin Andalib. “Women’s Opinions and Experiences Regarding Pursuing a Professional Life: A Micro Level Study of a Mahalla in Rajshahi City Corporation, Bangladesh.” Paper Presented at the 12^th Anniversary Celebration International Conference organized by the Department of Anthropology, University of Rajshahi, 2-3 December, 2011.

17. Wardatul Akmam, and Md. Fakrul Islam. “Non-Government Organizations' Contribution to Poverty Reduction and Empowerment of Women: Case of a Village in Gaibandha District, Bangladesh”. Paper presented at the workshop of Bangladesh Bioethics Association (BBS), Dhaka, Bangladesh during 15-16 March, University Grants Commission (UGC), Dhaka, 2010.

18. Wardatul Akmam, and Md. Fakrul Islam. “Gender Discrimination in Bangladesh: Some Issues”. Paper presented at the follow-up Bioethics Workshop arranged by UNESCO, Dhaka, Bangladesh during 11-12 July, at Planning Commission, Dhaka, 2009.

19. Wardatul Akmam, Nilufar Sultana, and Md. Fakrul Islam. Impact of Higher Education and Economic Self-reliance on Empowerment: A Study of Female Teachers of University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh." Paper presented at the 10th Pacific Regional Science Conference Organization (PRSCO) Summer Institute to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh during 15-17 May, 2008.

20. Wardatul Akmam, Md. Fakrul Islam and Rajib Kumar Barman. "Poverty Reduction and Women's Empowerment through Micro Credit Disbursed by BRAC in Bangladesh: A Case Study of Rajshahi District." Paper presented at the 44th Annual Meeting of the Japan Section of the RSAI (Regional Science Association, International), held in Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan during October 6-8, 2007.

21. Wardatul Akmam, Sk, Muaz Huraira Marshad and Md. Fakrul Islam. "Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water in Bangladesh: Nature of Awareness in an Arsenic-prone Area." Paper presented at 1st Annual Conference on Regional Science, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, during 16-17 March, 2007.

22. Sk, Muaz Huraira Marshad, Wardatul Akmam, and Md. Fakrul Islam. "Impact of Cell Phone Use on Rural Life in Bangladesh: A Sociological Study." Paper presented at 1st Annual Conference on Regional Science, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, during 16-17 March, 2007.

23. Md. Fakrul Islam, Ph.D., and Wardatul Akmam. "Changes in Socio-economic and Environmental Situations in the Dalia Irrigation Project Area During 2000-2007: Policy Recommendations and the Realities." Paper presented at 1st Annual Conference on Regional Science, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, during 16-17 March, 2007.

24. Wardatul Akmam, and Md. Fakrul Islam. “Taranagar from 2000 to 2005: Changes In Arsenic-related Situation in a Badly Affected Village in Meherpur, Bangladesh.” Paper presented at the 43^rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Section of the RSAI (Regional Science Association, International), held in Chiba Commerce University, Chiba, Japan during October 7-9, 2006.

25. Wardatul Akmam, and Md. Fakrul Islam. “Factors Affecting Awareness regarding Arsenic Poisoning in Bangladesh.” Paper presented at the 9^th PRSCO Summer Institute held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during 18-20 July, 2006.

26. M. Shahjahan, Wardatul Akmam and Md. Fakrul Islam. “Inculcation of Environment-friendly Ethics as a Prerequisite for Sustainable Development In Bangladesh.” Paper presented at the First Bangkok Bioethics Bio-ethics Conference held in Bangkok from September 11 to September 15, 2005.

27. Wardatul Akmam. “Water Scenario in Bangladesh: A Micro-level Study on Taranagar Village.” Paper presented at the 19^th PRSCO Conference held in Tokyo, Japan from July 25 to July 28, 2005.

28. Wardatul Akmam. “Women in Higher Education and White Collar Professions in Bangladesh: Some Issues of Gender Discrimination”. Paper presented at a seminar on Women and Development, held at University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, on December 12, 2003, under a Higher Education Link Programme with Manchester University, (Funded by DFID and Managed by British Council), Department of Sociology, University of Rajshahi.

29. Wardatul Akmam. “Women in Higher Education in Bangladesh”. Paper presented at a workshop on Women and Development, held at University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, on December 12, 2003 under a Higher Education Link Programme with Manchester University, (Funded by DFID and Managed by British Council), Department of Sociology, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

30. Wardatul Akmam and Yoshiro Higano. “Means of Providing Safe Water to Arsenic-Affected People in Bangladesh, With Special Reference to Taranagar Village.” A paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Regional Science Association International (Japan Section), held in Okinawa, Japan (November 1-3 2003).

31. Wardatul Akmam and Yoshiro Higano. “People's Ideas and Need for Safe Water: a Case of Arsenic-affected People in Meherpur District, Bangladesh” Paper presented at the Eighth International Tsukuba Bio-ethics Roundtable (TRT8), held at University of Tsukuba, Japan, during February 15-18, 2003.

32. Yoshiro Higano and Wardatul Akmam. “Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water in Bangladesh: A Policy Model Based on Multi-Objective Mixed –integer Programming for Supplying Safe Water.” Paper presented at the 14th International Symposium of the Secretariat of the PRSCO of the RSAI held in Sapporo, Japan during October 5-7, 2002.

33. Wardatul Akmam and Yoshiro Higano. “Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water in Bangladesh: A System to Provide Safe Water, with Special Reference to Meherpur District.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of Japan Association for Human and Environment Symbiosis, held in Chiba, September 27-28, 2002.

34. Wardatul Akmam and Yoshiro Higano. “Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water in Bangladesh: Making Provisions for and Convincing people to Adopt Safe Water to a Badly Affected Village in Meherpur District.” Paper presented at the 7^th PRSCO Summer Institute, Bali, Indonesia during June 20-21, 2002.

35. Wardatul Akmam and Yoshiro Higano. “Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water in Bangladesh: A Socio-economic Approach to Providing Safe Water to a Badly Arsenic Affected Village Through Informed Choice” Paper presented at the Seventh International Tsukuba Bio-ethics Roundtable (TRT7), held at University of Tsukuba, Japan, held at University of Tsukuba) held during February 15-18, 2002.

36. Wardatul Akmam and Yoshiro Higano. “Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water in Bangladesh: Some Thoughts Regarding the Best Possible Way to Supply Safe Water, with Special Reference to Three Villages in Meherpur District.” Paper presented at the 17^th Pacific Conference of Regional Science Association, International, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. (June 30—July 4, 2001).

37. Wardatul Akmam and Yoshiro Higano. “Arsenic Contamination in Bangladesh: A Policy Model for Supplying Safe Water, with Special Reference to a Village in Meherpur District.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Regional Science Association International (Japan Section), held in Kyoto, Japan (October 20-22, 2001).

38. Wardatul Akmam. “Maternal Education as a Strategy for Ensuring Children’s Survival and Health in Developing Countries, with Special Reference to Bangladesh”. Paper presented at the Sixth International Tsukuba Bio-ethics Roundtable, (University of Tsukuba) held during October 26-29, 2000.

39. Wardatul Akmam and Yoshiro Higano. “Difference of Opinion among Experts on the Source of Arsenic Contamination in Bangladesh: Impact on Measures for Remedy”. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Regional Science Association International (Japan Section), held in Sendai, Japan (November 2-4, 2000).

40. Wardatul Akmam and Yoshiro Higano. “Severity, Cause and Mitigation of the Problem of Arsenic Contamination in Ground Water in Bangladesh: A Synopsis”. Paper presented at Japan Science Council Meeting, (Tokyo) on August 7, 2000.

Research Experience:

1.      Worked as the team leader of a project titled ‘Assessing the quality of pre-tertiary education at the tertiary education organization (TEO)’ under the sub-project titled Optimizing Efficacy and Competency of the Post-graduate Programs through Innovative and Collaborative Research (OECR) of the Department of Sociology, University of Rajshahi, CP3563 organized by Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP), Academic Innovation Fund (AIF), University Grand Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, Ministry of Education, Government of Bangladesh, funded by World Bank (2014-2017).

2.      Worked as the Bangladeshi Team-leader of a research titled Women’s Participation in Environmental Protection and Sustainable Agricultural Development: A Micro-level Study of Two Villages in Bangladesh and Japan (UGC-JSPS Joint Research, 2016).

3.      Written a thesis to fulfill the requirements for Masters in Bioethics and Global Public Health (MBGPH) degree under American University of Sovereign Nations, Arizona, USA, titled:  “Desires of Parents regarding Gender of Children: Study of a Village in Northern Bangladesh,” (2016).

4.      Carried out research on the title: “Nature and Level of Empowerment among the Santal and Oraon Women in Godagari Upazila of Rajshahi District, Bangladesh: A Comparison” as an activity of the Improving Research Capabilities in Sociology (IRCS) sub-project under HEQEP, Organized by the UGC and funded by the World Bank in 2013.

5.      Worked as the Alternate Sub-Project Manager of the Self-Assessment Project, Department of Sociology, University of Rajshahi, under the Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project organized by the University Grants Commission, Bangladesh and funded by the World Bank (2012-2014).

6.      Worked as a Member of the Editorial Board of a project titled “Annotation of Village Studies in Bangladesh from 1971 to 2010”, sponsored by the Social Science Research Council, Planning Division, Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (2011).

7.      Completed a Project on “Supplying Safe Water to the Arsenic Affected People in Taranagar Village” (2009-2011). This project was funded by the College Women’s Association of Japan.

8.      Worked as a gender specialist for the IDCOL’s Biogas Users’ Survey 2009, implemented by Young Consultants.

9.      Worked as a JASSO follow-up research fellow at the University of Tsukuba from Dec. 29, 2008 to March 28, 2009. The research report produced was titled: Optimal Means of Supplying Safe Water to Arsenic-hit Villages in Meherpur District, Bangladesh: A Follow-up Study.

10.  Worked as an Associate Researcher of a research project titled “Commercial Sexual Behaviour and Risk Factors in Bangladesh: An Investigation of Female Sex Workers in Rajshahi City” under a Higher Education Link Programme (Funded by DFID and Managed by British Council), Department of Sociology, University of Rajshahi, 2004.

11.  Worked as an Associate Researcher of a research project titled “Access to Primary Health Care Services of Rural Women in a Bangladesh Village” under a Higher Education Link Programme (Funded by DFID and Managed by British Council), Department of Sociology, University of Rajshahi, 2003.

12.  Dissertation written in partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. Degree at the University of Tsukuba, Japan under the supervision of Professor Yoshiro Higano (2003). Title of dissertation: “A Policy-Mix for Supplying Safe Water to Arsenic-Affected People in Bangladesh, with Special Reference to Meherpur District.”

13.  Worked as an Associate Researcher of a research project financed by Grameen Bank, Bangladesh, under the Executive Directorship of Professor A.H.M. Zehadul Karim (1995). Title of research: “Suicide in Jhinaidah District in Bangladesh: A Case Study.”

14.  Dissertation written in partial fulfillment of the Degree of Master of Social Science (MSS) in Sociology, University of Rajshahi under the supervision of Professor A.H.M. Zehadul Karim (1991). Title of dissertation: “Role of Maternal Education in Educating Children in Rural Bangladesh: A Case Study.”

15.  Research Monograph written in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Social Science (Honors) Degree in Sociology, University of Rajshahi under the supervision of Late Professor A.S.M. Zillur Rahaman (1990). Title of Monograph: “The Socio-economic Condition of Family Affecting the Educational Achievement of Female Students at University Level: A Case Study of Rajshahi University, Bangladesh.”

16.  Worked as an Associate Researcher of a research project financed by Grameen Bank, Bangladesh, under the Executive Directorship of Professor A.H.M. Zehadul Karim (1995). Title of research: “Suicide in Jhinaidah District in Bangladesh: A Case Study.” 

Experience in Supervising M.Phil./PhD Students:

1. Sumana Akter, a fellow of the Institute of Bangladesh Studies, University of Rajshahi, completed her dissertation titled “Social Stigma among the Rural Women in Bangladesh: Its Patterns and Consequences in Gopalpur Village of Natore District” under my supervision and was awarded PhD degree from the University of Rajshahi in 2014. 

2. Abira Sadi, a fellow of the Institute of Education and Research, University of Rajshahi, has written her dissertation titled “Impact of Post-secondary Education on Future Aspirations of Female Students Studying at University of Rajshahi,” under my supervision and was awarded PhD degree from the University of Rajshahi in 2015.

3. Worked as a co-supervisor of the doctoral research titled Education and Its Impact on Social Development: A Study of the BRAC Education Programme in Some Selected Areas in Northern Bangladesh” carried out by Subhana Lina Haseen (Institute of Bangladesh Studies (IBS), University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh), who was awarded PhD Degree by University of Rajshahi in 2016. The supervisor of this dissertation was Professor Dr. Muhammad Mizanuddin, Vice Chancellor, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

4. Sharmin Sultana, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Rajshahi as a fellow of the Institute of Education and Research, University of Rajshahi, has written her dissertation titled “Women Empowerment through Entrepreneurship: A Study of SME in Rajshahi City” under my supervision, and has been awarded PhD degree in 2017.

Affiliations

1. Life member and Vice President (8) of Executive Committee of Rajshahi University Sociology Alumni Association
2. Life Member, and Member of Executive Committee, Bangladesh Bio-ethics Society
3. Member of Ethics Review Committee (ERB) of Bangladesh Bioethics Society  
4. Life Member and Joint Secretary, Bangladesh Regional Science Association
5. Advisor, "Swajan"-- A Voluntary Group for Blood Donation.

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