Meet Our Team

Dr. Dilara Zahid is a sociologist and mixed-methods researcher with over 20 years of experience in teaching, applied research, and field studies in Bangladesh. She is Associate Professor and former Director (2021–2023) of the Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies (IDMVS), University of Dhaka, holding a PhD in Sociology from Dhaka and pursuing a second PhD at Central Queensland University, Australia. Her expertise spans surveys, KAP studies, RCTs, and participatory qualitative research, with a focus on gender, disability, and social inclusion among vulnerable groups. She has led baseline/endline studies for UNDP, IFRC, VSO, and INGOs, publishing widely in peer-reviewed journals and delivering training across government, UN, and NGO platforms.

PhD from the National University of Singapore. Her research focuses on forced migration, statelessness, and peace and conflict studies. A former recipient of a British Academy award and the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI) Prize. She is the author of Memories of Burmese Rohingya Refugees: Contested Identity and Belonging (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017) and numerous journal articles and book chapters. She is currently a faculty member in the Department of International Relations at the University of Sharjah, UAE.

Dr. Imran Mahmud is currently serving as Professor and Head of the Department of Software Engineering at Daffodil International University, Bangladesh. He holds visiting positions at the Graduate School of Business, Universiti Sains Malaysia; Thuongmai University, Vietnam; Halic University, Turkey; and Gedik University, Turkey. He previously served as a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia and as a visiting lecturer at Institut Teknologi Bandung (Indonesia) and the Hong Kong Management Association.

Ph.D. in Public Health, University of Toronto. Former Canadian Institute of Health Research Fellow. A leading scholar in statistical genomics and public health research on chronic and infectious diseases, with nearly 100 articles in top journals like The Lancet and JAMA. He is currently a Professor at the University of Sharjah, UAE.

MBBS and MPH. Over 20 years of experience, including leading the public health team at UNHCR for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Leads all public health–related programs and provides strategic technical guidance.

MSc in Geography & MBA. 26 years of professional experience, including 14 years with UN Agencies (UNDP, WFP, UN Women) and GIZ. Expert in disaster management, policy development, and project management in DRR, CCA, and environmental sectors.

Dr. Md. Nazmus Sadekin is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Department of Economics at the same institution. Additionally, he held the positions of Dean of the Faculty of Social Science, Head of the Program Self-Assessment Committee (PSAC), and Head of the Faculty Quality Assurance Committee (FQAC), and is a member of the University Ranking Committee. He previously served as Director of the Department of Physical Education. Dr. Sadekin’s research interests include Resource Economics, Environmental Economics, Development Economics, Public Policy, and Wage Inequality. His scholarly work integrates rigorous empirical analysis with policy-oriented research, with a particular focus on the challenges and dynamics of developing countries. Particularly in Bangladesh. Dr. Sadekin has extensive experience in graduate teaching, research supervision, and academic leadership. His research integrates theoretical rigor with policy relevance, contributing to discussions on industrial development, institutional reform, and sustainable economic growth. He has supervised numerous graduate and postgraduate theses and has actively contributed to academic research through journal publications, conference presentations, reviewing, and collaborative research projects. Through his academic and professional engagements, he continues to promote evidence-based policymaking and analytical excellence in economic research.

Md. Salman Sohel is a Bangladeshi academic, researcher specializing in climate-resilient health systems, policy, and governance. He is currently the Head of the Department of Development Studies at Daffodil International University, Bangladesh, and also serves as a Visiting Faculty member at Frontier University, Somalia. He holds an MPH from Birmingham City University, UK, and a Master in Public Policy & Management from Hohai University, China.

His research focuses on health systems, migration, vulnerable populations, WASH, climate change, disaster-prone communities, and human-rights-based development programming. He has authored more than 60 publications in Scopus/SCIE-indexed journals, including BMC Public Health, The Lancet, Heliyon, PLOS ONE, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, and SN Social Sciences. He serves as Associate Editor of SN Social Sciences, Editorial Board Member of BMC Public Health, and Founder of HAPPY Co-Lab.

He has received several awards, including the Best Researcher Award 2025,2024 and Best Teacher Award 2024, Bangamata Young Researcher Fellowship 2024. He also received an Erasmus+ Visiting Fellowship in Spain and Romania. His professional experience includes leading and supporting nationally and internationally funded projects with organizations such as the World Bank, WHO, Johns Hopkins University, Plan International, Save the Children, and the Government of Bangladesh.

Ms. Nahid Kaiser has received her bachelor's and master's degree from the Department of English, University of Dhaka. A former Assistant Professor of the Department of English, Daffodil International University, she is currently teaching at East West University as an Adjunct Faculty. She has a number of published research articles in prestigious journals along with book chapters. Recently, she has presented papers in four international conferences. Apart from being a PhD researcher on Tagore, Nahid is a published bilingual poet, literary translator and internationally awarded storyteller. Her core research interest is in Eco-feminism and post-colonialism.

Ms. Afsana BEGUM is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Software Engineering, Faculty of Science and information technology, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh. Currently She is Pursuing her PhD in the Faculty of Electronic Engineering \& Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, 02600, Malaysia and She is also a member of Centre of Excellence for Advanced Computing (AdvComp), Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, 02600, Perlis, Malaysia. From 2022 she was working as a Coordinator of Masters, in the Department of Software Engineering, Faculty of Science and information technology, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh. She received best Performing Faculty Member award in 2020, and AFSANA BEGUM is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Software Engineering, Faculty of Science and information technology, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh. Currently She is Pursuing her PhD in the Faculty of Electronic Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, Malaysia. She is also a member of the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Computing (AdvComp) in the same university. From 2022 she was working as a Coordinator of Masters, in the Department of Software Engineering, Faculty of Science and information technology, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh. She received best Performing Faculty Member award in 2020 and 2022 in the Daffodil International University, Bangladesh. She completed her MSc in IIT, Dhaka University with class position 1st and completed her BSc in TEE with class position 4th the Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University. She is a member of BSPUA and BDSS. Her research interests are primarily in the area of Data Science, Machine Learning, Networking, Cyber Security etc.

Ms. Tasfia Rahman is a gender specialist whose work focuses on the intersection of gender, mental health, and structural inequality in Global South contexts. With a background in psychology and social work, she brings an interdisciplinary and justice-oriented approach to research and practice. Her work critically engages with how gender shapes lived experiences, access to resources, and participation in systems such as health, education, and labour. She is particularly interested in intersectional and participatory methodologies that centre marginalized voices and challenge dominant narratives. Tasfia has contributed to academic research and collaborative projects across Bangladesh, India, Australia, and the USA with a focus on generating evidence that informs inclusive policy and practice. Her work reflects a commitment to advancing gender equity through rigorous, context-sensitive, and impact-driven research.