Details Profile of Researchers in BIISS
Research Faculty
Dr Sufia Khanom
Senior Research Fellow
Biography
I am a Senior Research Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). More than 15 years, I am learning through the extensive research works under the broad umbrella of environmental security and gender studies. I am interested in examining the geopolitical and cultural dynamics of natural resources management under changing climatic condition. I am particularly interested on security perceived by the different marginalised groups specially environmentally induced migrants in their everyday spaces and the hydro politics of trans-boundary water resources in South Asia and beyond. My research fieldworks prefer creative methods and methodologies that bring out alternative narratives which may remain hidden through conventional methods.
I did my BSc in Environmental Science from Khulna University and MSS in Women and Gender Studies from Dhaka University, Bangladesh. I completed my second MSc in Gender and Development Studies from Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand and PhD in Geography and Planning from Macquarie University, Australia.
Areas of Expertise
- Environmental Security
- Human Security Dimension of Environmentally Induced Migration
- Climate Change Negotiations and Impact Assessment
- Gender Issues in Global South
- Water Diplomacy in the context of transboundary water resources management.
Publications
- Sufia Khanom, “Climate Change Negotiations: Practices, Performatives and Politics”, BIISS Journal (forthcoming)
- Sufia Khanom, “Environmentally-Displaced Migration in Bangladesh: Human Security perspectives”, BIISS Journal, Volume 39, Number 3, July 2018.
- Sufia Khanom, “Withdrawal of International/US Security Force from Afghanistan: An Assessment”, Journal of international Affairs, Volume 18, No. 1& 2, June and December 2014
- Sufia Khanom, “The 17th SAARC Summit: Issues, Outcome and Implications for Bangladesh”, BIISS Journal, Volume 33, No. 1, January 2012, pp. 1-22.
- Sufia Khanom, “Women and Water-Logged Condition- A Case from Bangladesh”, International Magazine on Women and Environments, International Magazine, Spring 2011, 86/87, University of York, Canada, pp. 28-29.
- Sufia Khanom, “Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster in Japan: An Assessment”, BIISS Journal, Volume 32, No. 2, April 2011, pp. 105-129.
- Sufia Khanom, “Gender Issues in Climate Change: Bangladesh Perspective”, BIISS Journal, Volume 30, No. 4, 2009, pp. 449-469.
- Humayun Kabir and Sufia Khanom, “India’s River-Linking Project: Plausible Implications for Bangladesh” BIISS Journal, Volume 29, No. 2, 2007, pp. 177-209.
- Sufia Khanom “Likely Impact of Tipaimukh Dam on Bangladesh” BIISS Journal, Volume 27, No. 3, 2006, pp. 223-249.
Book Chapters:
- Sufia Khanom with Dr Shaheen Afroze and Akand Mohammad Faisal Uddin, "Climate Change and National Security of Bangladesh", National Security of Bangladesh 2009, Chapter 4, Major General Golam Mohammad (edt.), University Press Limited (UPL), Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2010, pp. 149-198.
- Sufia Khanom, Thai, Thai-Karen and Karen Women's Insecurity in Forest Livelihoods- A Comparative Analysis from Kaeng Krachen Complex, Thailand, Edited by Hannah Olson, Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany 2011.
- Sufia Khanom, “Empowering nation through empowering women: Reflections from Bangabandhu’s thoughts”, Bangabandhu and Bangladesh: Foreign Policy and Leadership, Major General Emdadul Bari (edt.), Pathak Somabesh (forthcoming)
- Sufia Khanom, “(Re) Defining human security for environmentally induced migrants in informal settlements of Dhaka”, in Next 50: Collective Futures, (forthcoming)
Newspaper Articles
- Sufia Khanom, “Why women: Gender Issues in small arms proliferation”, The Daily Star, March 20, 2013. Available at: https://www.thedailystar.net/news/gender-issues-in-small-arms-proliferation
- Sufia Khanom with Aroma Dutta, “The story of women in politics in Bangladesh”, White Board, Policy Magazine, Issue 03, March 16, 2021. Available at: https://whiteboardmagazine.com/2087/the-story-ofwomen-in-politics-in-bangladesh/
Research projects
- Position: Team Member
Project Name: India-China Competition and the Evolving Dynamics of South Asia: Imperatives for Bangladesh Foreign Policy
Project Funded by: Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS)
Duration: August 2020- Present
- Position: Co-team Leader
Project: Baseline study on Violence Free Model Village Project Outcome: Identified factors used for reducing violence against women for model village;
funded by “Manusher Jannyo Foundation” NGO.
Duration: Feb 2013 - Dec 2013 (11 Months)
- Position: Country Researcher for Bangladesh part
Project: Constitutional Laws and Gender Justice Revisited in Bangladesh
Outcome: It was a part of umbrella project on Re-visiting gender in development: Complex inequalities in a changing Asia
Funded by Norwegian Council
Duration: Jan 2012 - Apr 2012 (05 Months)
- Position: Team Member
Project: Gendered (in) securities in Greater Mekong sub-regional biodiversity conservation Initiatives (GMS-BCI)
Outcome: Findings were used for preparing the socially and gender-responsive natural resource management in the context of biodiversity conservation corridors initiatives.
Funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), Thailand
Duration: Jun 2008-May 2009 (12 Months)
Paper Presentation
- The paper "Bangabandhu's Role in Empowerment of Women" was presented at Webinar on Bangabandhu and Bangladesh: Leadership and Foreign Policy, organized by BIISS on 13 December 2020.
- The paper "Sharing best practices of mainstreaming gender in disaster risk reduction and how regional cooperation can support institutionalization of these initiatives" was presented at Regional Seminar on Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Development in South Asia jointly organized by BIISS and UNESCAP on 10 December 2019.
- The paper "Neither Plenty of Water Norenough Strategies: Securitizing South Asian Water Resources" was presented at Bi-lateral Dialogue on Bangladesh-India Cooperation in the Changing Regional and Global Context jointly organized by IDSA, New Delhi and BIISS on 03 July 2019.
- The paper “Freedom from Exclusion: Security and Environmentally Displaced Migrants Slum, Dhaka” was presented in a workshop on Climate-related Displacement in the Asia-Pacific: What Prospects Exist for Outcomes? Organized by Macquarie University, Australia on 7-8 December 2017.
- The paper "Bangladesh-India Water Resources Management: Issues and Concern" was presented at a regional conference on Regional Transboundary Water Resources Management jointly organized by BIISS and Konrad-Adenaeuer Stiftung (KAS), Germany on 05-06 September 2012.
- The paper "Indian river linking project and its impacts on Bangladesh" was presented at a Bi-lateral Dialogue between IDSA, New Delhi and BIISS on 28-29 March 2012.
- The paper "Women under stressed environmental condition- A case study from South-West Bangladesh" was presented at an international conference jointly organized by BRAC University, Bangladesh and Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, Hong Kong on 17-18 December 2011.
- The paper "Maritime Piracy: Security and Prevention" was presented at a national seminar organized by the Human Rights Committee (Manobadhikar Bastobayan Songstha) on 12 December 2011.
Training Records:
- Participated in the HI-AWARE Academy Training Sessions on Climate change and its impacts for Doctoral Students (05 Days) organized by ICIMOD, Nepal in November 2016.
- Participated in training on River erosion and embankment safety management for sustainable livelihoods in South Asia region (07 days) organized by SAARC Disaster Management Centre, New Delhi and Disaster Research Training and Management Centre, Dhaka University in March 2014.
- Conducted a Qualitative Research Methodology (06 Days) as a sole Trainer organized by BANBEIS, Ministry of Education, Bangladesh in November 2012.
- Participated in the training workshop on Environmental Development and Disaster Management (04 days) organized by Bangladesh Public Administration Training Institute (BPATC) in November 2009.
- Participated at the training workshop on Methodology of Climate Migration Research (08 Days) organized by Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; Institute of Social Science, Netherlands; and Institute of Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada in October 2008.
- Participated at the training workshop on Gender and Development (07 Days) organized by Academy for Planning and Development, Ministry of Planning in July 2007.
- Participated at the training programme on Environment and Environmental Law (05 Days) organized by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association in September 2006.
- Participated in the training Social Sciences Research Methodology (10 Days) organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in December 2006.
Academic Awards and Achievements
Individual Academic Research Projects:
2018 Research entitled “Exploring gendered (in)security of environmentally induced migrants: A case from Dhaka, Bangladesh, Doctoral Dissertation, submitted to the Department of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
2009 Research entitled “Thai, Thai-Karen and Karen women’s (In)security in forest livelihoods: A comparative analysis from Kaeng-Krachen Complex in Thai-Myanmar Border, Thailand, Master Thesis, submitted to the Department of Gender and Development Studies, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand.
2004 Research entitled “Women’s contribution in livelihood under water-logged condition: A case study from Bangladesh”, Master Thesis, submitted to the Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka.
2002 Research entitled “Women's participation in decision making on migration under stressed environmental condition: A case study from Southern Bangladesh”, Monograph, submitted to the Department of Environmental Science, Khulna University.
Academic Awards and Achievements:
- “University Higher Degree Research” Scholarship at Macquarie University, Australia in 2015
- HI-AWARE Academy Fellowship ICIMOD, Nepal in 2016
- Top Student Award from Asian Institute of Technology in 2009
- Research Awards for Master Students Asian Development Bank in 2008
- Merit Excellence Award from Department of Women and Gender Studies, Dhaka University in 2008
- “NUFFIC Scholarship” 2007 for MSC program by Netherlands Government in 2007
- Merit List Scholarship of Khulna University, Bangladesh in 1998
- Merit List Scholarship at Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Exam Education Board of Bangladesh in 1995
- Talent Scholarship at Secondary School of Bangladesh Government in 1994
- Talent Scholarship at Elementary School Board of Bangladesh Government in 1990