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Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies

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Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies

Ayesha Binte Towhid

Ayesha Binte Towhid

Research Fellow , Strategic Studies
880-2-48315808, 9353808, 9336287; Ext. 111 ayesha@biiss.org

Ms. Ayesha Binte Towhid is a Research Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). She works under the Strategic Studies division where she focuses on geostrategy, geopolitics and national security. She is also part of the Indo-Pacific Study Group where she analyzes the evolving strategic landscape in the Indian Ocean. Additionally, she is part of two research projects focusing on the strategy of Bangladesh in context of the deepening instability in Myanmar, and Bangladesh’s military modernization.

Ms. Towhid holds a MSc degree in Strategic Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and a MSS degree in International Relations from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. She has been working at BIISS since March 2019. She has published a monograph, articles in academic journals and opinion pieces in reputed news media. She also works as assistant editor and peer reviewer of various BIISS publications.

Area of Expertise

o    Geopolitics of Indo-Pacific 
o    US-China strategic competition 
o    Conflicts in the digital age
o    Violent extremism, radicalization and counter-terrorism
o    Selected issues of Bangladesh’s national security

Journal Articles
  1. Ayesha Binte Towhid, “Taiwan as a Flashpoint in the US-China Strategic Competition: Potential Escalation and Implications for Bangladesh,” BIISS Journal, Volume 44, Issue 3, 2023
  2. Ayesha Binte Towhid, “Global Trends of Online Radicalization during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Bangladesh’s Experience and Its Security Implications,” BIISS Journal, Volume 42, Issue 4, 2021
  3. Sajid Karim and Ayesha Binte Towhid, “The Evolving Conflict Environment and the Future of United Nations Peace Operations: Natural Resources, Environment and Climate in Perspective,” International Day of UN Peacekeepers Journal, Armed Forces Division (AFD), Issue 09, May 2023.
Monograph
  1. Ayesha Binte Towhid, “Information Disorder in the Information Age: Actors, Tactics, and Impacts in South and Southeast Asia,” BIISS Paper 28, 2020
Book Review
  1. Lie Machines: How to Save Democracy from Troll Armies, Deceitful Robots, Junk News Operations, and Political Operatives by Philip N. Howard, BIISS Journal, Volume 42, Issue 1, 2021
  2. The Making of Global International Relations: Origins and Evolution of IR at its Centenary by Amitav Acharya and Barry Buzan, BIISS Journal, Volume 41, Issue 3, 2020
Research Projects
  • Team member of the BIISS Strategic Studies division project “The Geopolitics of Deepening Instability in Myanmar: Challenges and Strategy of Bangladesh” (Ongoing)
  • Team member of the BIISS project “Modernization of Bangladesh Armed Forces: Synergies with Evolving Strategic Landscape in the Indo-Pacific”. (Ongoing)
  • Team member of the BIISS project “Polarization in the OIC on the issue of Palestine-Israel”, BIISS. (2020-2021)
Paper Presentation
  • Presented a paper titled “Taiwan as a Flashpoint in US-China Strategic Competition” in BIISS Research Colloquium, December 2022. 
  • Presented on “Bangladesh’s Existing Collaboration in International Fora” at the BIISS RoundTable discussion with Ambassador Michele J. Sison, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, 08 August 2022.
Awards
  • Awarded the Student Research Assistant Study Award by S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
  • Winner of Women Innovation Challenge 2016, organized by Access to Information Program (a2i), Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh.
Scholarships
  • General Scholarship for high scores in BSS Honours and MSS results.
  1. Ayesha Binte Towhid, “An Indo-Pacific Outlook for Bangladesh,” The Daily Star, January 28, 2023. Available at  https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/news/indo-pacific-outlook-bangladesh-3232621
  2. Ayesha Binte Towhid, “US National Security Strategy 2022: The View from Bangladesh,” The Diplomat, November 02, 2022, Available at  https://thediplomat.com/2022/11/us-national-security-strategy-2022-the-view-from-bangladesh/