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Shafi Md Mostofa

Shafi Md Mostofa

Shafi Md Mostofa, Ph.D., is an associate professor of World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka and a post-doctoral research fellow of the Democracy Institute at the Central European University, Hungary.

He is a theologian and security studies scholar with broad interests in political Islam, authoritarianism, modern South Asian history and politics, and international relations and the clash of civilizations. He has published extensively with Routledge, Springer, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, SAGE, and Wiley and Blackwell; and the journals: Politics and Religion, Politics and Policy, Perspectives on Terrorism, Asian and African Studies, and Peace and Conflict Review. His sole authored book published from Palgrave Macmillan in 2021 on “Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh: A Pyramid Root Cause Model.”

Mostofa did his Ph.D. from the University of New England, Australia in 2020 with IPRA scholarship. He was awarded a Gold Medal by the President of Bangladesh for topping the MA examination in 2012 from the University of Dhaka. He contributes articles on Bangladeshi politics, religion, minority rights, human rights, and secularism.

Posts by Shafi Md Mostofa
April 14, 2025

Reimagining the Bangladesh-China Strategic Partnership

By Shafi Md Mostofa and Tamim Muntasir
As Bangladesh redefines its foreign policy, its ability to balance regional and global interests will determine the future trajectory of Bangladesh-China relations in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.

April 10, 2025

From Revolution to Reform: The BNP’s Uphill Battle in a New Bangladesh

By Shafi Md Mostofa
Despite its historical popularity, the party is losing ground due to a combination of internal weaknesses, external pressures, and shifting public expectations.
March 11, 2025

The Rise of the National Citizen Party: A New Dawn in Bangladeshi Politics?

By Shafi Md Mostofa
A new political party formed by the students who led the July 2024 uprising represents a bold attempt to redefine Bangladeshi politics.

March 06, 2025

Breaking the Promise? State Violence and Dehumanization in Post-Revolution Bangladesh

By Shafi Md Mostofa and Md Tariqul Islam Tanvir
With “Operation Devil Hunt,” the interim government risks repeating the mistakes of the erstwhile Awami League regime.

February 15, 2025

Terrorism in Bangladesh: Political Manipulation, Ideological Roots, and Western Influence

By Shafi Md Mostofa
Interviews with individuals arrested for terrorism reveal how the issue of terrorism intertwines with West-centric narratives, ideological extremism, and the political strategies of the Awami League.

February 07, 2025

The Bangladesh Awami League: From Dominance to a Legitimacy Crisis

By Shafi Md Mostofa
Rebuilding political legitimacy will be an uphill battle for the Awami League, requiring a reimagining of its organizational structure and a substantive ideological recalibration.
January 08, 2025

Revolution and Rivalry: Can Bangladesh Escape Its Illiberal Past?

By Shafi Md Mostofa
Bangladesh’s entrenched political culture, rooted in decades of illiberal democracy, violence, and bad governance, casts a long shadow.

January 01, 2025

The Role of Bangladesh’s Military in the July Revolution and Its Historical Legacy

By Shafi Md Mostofa
After a long period of military rule, the military’s overt role in politics has diminished since the 1990s – as evidenced by its restrained role during the revolution of July-August 2024.

December 13, 2024

Bangladesh-India Relations at Stake: The Way Forward

By Shafi Md Mostofa
While the government transition has exposed underlying tensions, it also presents an opportunity for both nations to redefine their relationship on more equitable and inclusive terms. 

December 04, 2024

Bangladesh’s Cyber Radicalization Crisis

By Shafi Md Mostofa
Extremist groups in Bangladesh are increasingly using online platforms to spread violent ideologies.

November 09, 2024

Hasina’s Failed Pursuit of the China Model 

By Shafi Md Mostofa
The ousted Bangladeshi prime minister failed to replicate China’s success for two critical reasons: ideological disconnect and economic decline.
November 02, 2024

The Repression of Muslim Identity and the Rise of Conservative Islam in Bangladesh

By Shafi Md Mostofa
The imposition of secularism by the ruling elites catalyzed a conservative backlash that has continued to shape the religious and political landscape of the country since independence.

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