Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Department of Law
1999-2001 Master of Arts by Major Thesis (M.A.)
School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies
The University of Melbourne
(Thesis: An Assessment of the Capacity of Bangladesh in Regulating the Natural Gas Industry)
2000 Diploma in Teaching in Higher Education
Institute for the Study of Higher Education
The University of Melbourne
1998 Diploma in Development Studies
Delhi University & Save the Children International
1994 Post-graduate Diploma in Human Rights and Legal Aid
Dhaka International University
(with distinction)
1991-1992 Master of Laws (LL.M.)
University of Dhaka
(First Class)
1987-1991 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
University of Dhaka
(with Honours)
Professor Abu Zayed Mohammad is the Head of the Department of Law and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at City University.
Professor Mohammad is one of the leading academic luminaries in the field of the study of Law in Bangladesh. With an academic career spanning over two decades, he has served in various capacities in some of the top legal education providers of the country. Prior to his joining City University, Professor Mohammad was the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Northern University Bangladesh. In his tenure as an academic leader, he has also served as the Chairman of the Department of Law and Human Rights at the University of Development Alternative. Moreover, Professor Mohammad is well known for his acumen and discretion in maintaining discipline for ensuring a safe, secure and education-friendly environment on-campus. He has served as the Proctor of Northern University Bangladesh and is currently the Proctor of City University as well. Professor Mohammad has been serving as an External Examiner at the Department of Law, University of Dhaka for a number of years. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Bangladesh Organization for Learning & Development (BOLD), the apex national platform for creating human capital in Bangladesh.
As an academic, Professor Mohammad has extensive teaching and learning experience in specialized legal domains of; Strategy, Governance and the Law, Legal System of Bangladesh, Human Rights, Not-for-Profit Law, Environmental Law and Policy, Regulation of Non-renewable Energy Resources, Criminology, Law and Development, Consumer Rights, Constitutional Law, International Air and Aviation Law, Public Interest Law, International Humanitarian Law, and Children in Conflict with the Law. He has previously taught at the North South University, University of Asia Pacific, Daffodil International University, to name a few, in addition to his academic leadership (and teaching) positions mentioned earlier.
Professor Mohammad’s research career spans longer than his pursuits in teaching in higher education. With a humble beginning by writing for his College journal in 1987, his research and perspectives have received wide national and international acclaim over a period stretching over thirty-five years. Professor Mohammad has been instrumental in the study of Terrorism in Bangladesh and has contributed to the books entiled A Study on the Religion-based Violent Extremism in Northern Bangladesh (RAB Forces Headquarters, Bangladesh Police, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka, July, 2019) and the treatise on Local Drivers and Dynamics of Youth Radicalization in Bangladesh (Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Dhaka, 16 November, 2017). He is one of the distinguished authors of the Asian Development Bank’s phenomenal volumes on Legal Empowerment; Legal Empowerment for Women and Disadvantaged Groups (Asian Development Bank and The Asia Foundation, Manila, The Philippines, January, 2009) and Good Practices Guide for Incorporating Legal Empowerment into Operations (Asian Development Bank and The Asia Foundation, Manila, The Philippines, January, 2009). Professor Mohammad’s chapter on the relationship between the Law and Political Violence has been published by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the book Beyond Hartals: Towards Democratic Dialogue in Bangladesh (UNDP, Bangladesh, March, 2005), remains one of the most distinct critical enquiries on Political Violence in South Asia. His paper “Voice, Demand and Accountability: The Experience of Transparency International in Bangladesh” was a basis for writing The World Bank’s flagship publication; The World Development Report 2004: Making Services Work for the Poor. Professor Mohammad has been the distinguished Research Expert for the Rapid Action Battalion Headquarters, Bangladesh Police, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and continues his work on Human Security as a Senior Research Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies(BIPSS).
Professor Mohammad was educated at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; The University of Melbourne, Australia and at the Hamburg University, Germany. He is an enrolled Advocate on the rolls of Bangladesh Bar Council and is also eligible for practicing before the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Bar Council: Enrolled as an Advocate in the rolls of the Bangladesh Bar Council, 1993
Bangladesh Bar Council: Permitted to practice before the High Court Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, 1994
Asia & The Pacific Policy Society, Australia
Society for International Development, Hamburg Chapter, Germany
European Association for South Asian Studies
Electoral Stakeholders Network, UK
Australasian Evaluation Society, Australia
Institute of Post-Colonial Studies, Australia
Bangladesh Law Association
Dhaka Bar Association, Bangladesh
Alliance Francaise de Dhaka
Books:
1. An Assessment of the Regulation related to the Export of Manpower from Bangladesh, Association of Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS), Tokyo, Japan, February, 2022
2. A Study on the Religion-based Violent Extremism in Northern Bangladesh, RAB Forces Headquarters, Bangladesh Police, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, July, 2019
3. Piracy in The Sundarbans, RAB Forces Headquarters, Bangladesh Police, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, June, 2019
4. Local Drivers and Dynamics of Youth Radicalization in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), Dhaka, Bangladesh, 16 November, 2017
5. Violent Extremism in Bangladesh: A Study on Youth Perception, RAB Forces Headquarters, Bangladesh Police, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, June, 2016
6. Report Card Survey 2015: Citizens’ Voice for Quality Primary Education, Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), Dhaka, Bangladesh, December, 2015
7. Landmark Judgements on Violence against Women of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh, June, 2014
8. De-radicalization and Engagement of Youth in Pakistan, Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Islamabad, Pakistan, 2011
9. Child Protection through ‘Decentralized and Integrated Diversion Models in Bangladesh’: A Review, Save the Children International, Dhaka, Bangladesh, May, 2011
10. Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Education in Mother Tongue, (in both Bangla and English) Save the Children UK, Dhaka, Bangladesh, July, 2009
11. Legal Empowerment for Women and Disadvantaged Groups, Asian Development Bank and The Asia Foundation, Manila, The Philippines, January, 2009.
12. Good Practices Guide for Incorporating Legal Empowerment into Operations, Asian Development Bank and The Asia Foundation, Manila, The Philippines, January, 2009.
13. Water Management Cooperative Association: Members’ Legal Empowerment Training Manual (both in Bangla and English), The Asia Foundation (USA) and Ain-O-Salish Kendra (Bangladesh), August, 2007
14. Beyond Hartals: Towards Democratic Dialogue in Bangladesh, UNDP, Bangladesh, March, 2005
15. Report on Towards Pro-Women and Child-Friendly Policing, The British Council, Bangladesh, July, 2002.
16. Rights Reference Handbook on Education, Action Aid Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, February, 2002.
17. Environmental Regulatory Regime: A Selected Bibliography on SAARC Region, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Dhaka, Bangladesh, September, 1995.
Papers/Reports:
“Tourism Policy and Laws in Bangladesh: Scoping for Foreign Direct Investment”, Paper presented at the People’s Provincial Government of Yunnan and Bangladesh Cooperation Dialogue, Kunming, People’s Republic of China, 26 April, 2018
“Countering Violent Extremism: The Legal Frontier”, Key note presented at the Workshop on Countering Violent Extremism: Building Resilience and Capacity for the Law Enforcement Agencies in Bangladesh, Government of Canada and the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 24 January, 2018
“Prison Radicalization in Bangladesh: From the Frying Pan into the Fire”, Key note presented at the Workshop on Countering Violent Extremism: Building Resilience and Capacity for the Law Enforcement Agencies in Bangladesh, Government of Canada and the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 10 March, 2017
“Security Implication of Climate Change: Focus on Bangladesh”, Paper presented at the joint seminar organized by the Konrad Adeneur Stiftung (Germany) and Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Dhaka, 25 January, 2017
“Climate Change Threat Mapping 2016: Bangladesh”, SKOLL Foundation, Palo Alto, California, United States of America, December, 2016
“Education for All: Good Governance and Decentralisation”, key note paper presented at the Seminar organized by the Campaign for Popular Education, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, September, 2015
“Violence and Human Rights: An Assessment of the Pre-election Political Violence in Bangladesh”, key note paper presented at the seminar organized by the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh, Magura, Bangladesh, March, 2015
“A Brief Overview of Bangladesh’s History, Culture and Politics”, paper presented at the training programme for Australian Volunteers for International Development, South Asia Programme, Austraining International (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Government of Australia), Dhaka, Bangladesh, April, 2014
“Arab Spring and the Shahbagh Movement: What it means and can it happen again?”, in Proceedings of the International Seminar on The Arab Spring: Impact and Implications & Religion and Security, Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, March, 2014
“Tourism Law for Bangladesh: This place was fine, till you arrived”, published in Green Reflections, Issue X, Journal of the Earth Club, North South University, July, 2012
“Protecting Wetlands and Open Spaces by Law in Dhaka Metropolitan City”, published in Green Reflections, Issue IX, Journal of the Earth Club, Department of Environmental Science and Management, North South University, June, 2011
“Radicalization of Youth in Bangladesh: Causes and De-radicalization Approaches”, paper presented at the South Asian Seminar, Oriental Institute, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, 11 January, 2011
“Impact of Public Interest Environmental Litigation: A Question of Standing”, published in Green Reflections, Issue VIII, Journal of the Earth Club, Department of Environmental Science and Management, North South University, July, 2010
“Democratic Governance, Human Rights and Millennium Development Goals: The State of Play in Bangladesh” Institute of Governance Studies, BRAC University, sponsored by UNDP-Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh, April, 2010
“Diaspora and Radicalization: Exploring the Emerging Nexus” for the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth, Government of the United Kingdom, Dhaka, Bangladesh, March, 2010
“Police Perception Survey 2009”, Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), report commissioned by the Embassy of the United States of America, Dhaka, Bangladesh, August, 2009
“Radicalization of Youth in Bangladesh: A Case Study”, paper presented at the International Seminar on De-radicalization and Engagement of Youth in Pakistan, Islamabad Policy Research Institute and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (Germany), Islamabad, Pakistan, 28-29 July, 2009
“Mid-term Review: Child Friendly Juvenile Justice System in Bangladesh Project”, report commissioned by DANIDA, Royal Danish Embassy, Dhaka for UNICEF, Bangladesh, January, 2009
“Study on Assessing Groups Capacities to Address Effectively the Constraints and Opportunities for Enhancing Food Security”, report commissioned by CARE Bangladesh for the European Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh, November, 2008
“Environmental Law for Environmental Management System Audit”, paper presented at the Environmental Management Systems Auditor/Lead Auditor Training Course (A 14478), Bureau Veritas Group, Dhaka, January, 2008
“Relationship between International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights”, presented at the training workshop on International Humanitarian Law, jointly organised by Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) http://www.bipss.org.bd and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Dhaka, January, 2008
“Bangladesh Second Small Scale Water Resources Development Sector Project: Legal Empowerment Pilot Project Experience”, paper presented at the Regional Conference on Legal Empowerment for Women and Disadvantaged Groups, ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines, 13 December, 2007
“UN Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses: The Politics of Ratification”, published at http://www.meghbarta.org/nws/nw_main_p02b.php?issueId=6§ionId=16&articleId=121
4 August, 2007
Strategic Plan of Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) 2008 to 2012 (unpublished draft), sponsored by the Department for International Development, UK, April, 2007
“Promoting Improved Access to Justice: Draft Report on Community Legal Service Delivery in Bangladesh”, report commissioned by The Asia Foundation (USA) for the Department for International Development, UK, February, 2007
“Citizen’s Report Card Survey on the Char Livelihoods Programme (CLP)”, report commissioned by the Chars Livelihood Programme (CLP), sponsored by the Local Government Division, Government of Bangladesh and funded by the Department for International Development, UK, August, 2006
“Consumer Rights and the Role of Civil Society in Bangladesh”, paper presented at the Roundtable on Consumer Rights and Role of Civil Society in Bangladesh, organized jointly by The Consumers Trust (TCT) and Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB), Hotel Supreme, Mirabazar, Sylhet, Bangladesh, 11 July, 2006
“Writing Academic Papers”, paper presented at the Seminar on Writing Academic Papers, Department of Law and Human Rights, University of Development Alternative, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 10 April, 2006
"Voice, Demand and Accountability: The Experience of Transparency International in Bangladesh", in World Development Report 2004 'Making Services Work for the Poor', The World Bank, 2004
“Puzzling 'Foreign Aid' Fraud and Bangladeshi Elite”, published at: http://www.meghbarta.org/nws/nw_main_p02b.php?issueId=27§ionId=14&articleId=355, March, 2001
"Making waves: The challenge of anti-corruption work in Bangladesh", Paper presented at the seminar organised by Transparency International - Australia, Freehills, Melbourne, Australia, 27 March, 2001
"The poor man's beautiful daughter: An assessment of the capacity of Bangladesh in regulating natural gas", Paper presented at the School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies Seminar, The University of Melbourne, Australia, 10 November, 2000
"People's perception of corruption in Bangladesh", Paper presented at the National Centre for South Asian Studies Postgraduate and Honours Students Residential Workshop, International House, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia, 7 July, 2000
"Dreams of adolescent girls: A report on a participatory research by adolescent girls on the status of adolescent girls living in urban slums of Dhaka", (unpublished draft), Save the Children UK, Dhaka, Bangladesh, February, 1999.
"Trade related intellectual property rights: whose interest whose benefit", Paper presented at the Development Studies School, Save the Children UK, Office of South and Central Asia Region, Kathmandu, Nepal, March, 1998.
"Claiming (un)equal rights to property in Bangladesh", Paper presented at the Development Studies School, Save the Children UK, Office of the South and Central Asia Region, Kathmandu, Nepal, March, 1998.
"Protection of environment: international safeguards", Paper presented at the Human Rights Training Programme, Madaripur Legal Aid Association, Madaripur, Bangladesh, June, 1995.
"Protecting environment through law", Paper presented at the Human Rights Training Programme, Madaripur Legal Aid Association, Madaripur, Bangladesh, June, 1995.
"Hazardous waste management in Bangladesh", Paper presented at the Training Course on Environmental Law, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, Dhaka, Bangladesh, March, 1995.
"Regulating toxic chemicals and hazardous waste in Bangladesh: The irregular paths", in Proceedings of the International Conference on Public Safety and Health hazards from Industrial and Environmental Pollutants, Consumer Education and Research Centre, Ahmedabad, India, March, 1995
Strategy - Governance and the Law – Legal System of Bangladesh - Human Rights – Civil Society in Bangladesh – Not-for-profit law - Environmental Law and Policy – Regulation of Non-renewable Energy Resources – Education Policy – Criminology – Law and Development - Consumer Rights – Constitutional Law - Rule of Law – International Air and Aviation Law - International Trade Law – Public Interest Law – International Humanitarian Law – Children in Conflict with the Law