Bangladesh Sociological Society

Sociology in Bangladesh

History Faculty Major Publications Degrees Offered Courses Taught

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF RAJSHAHI

Rajshahi 6205 Bangladesh

Phone 880-721-750041-9/Ext 4159

E-mail: sociology_ru_edu@yahoo.com

Website: www.ru.ac.bd

Short History

Sociology was first introduced in the Department of Political Science in 1964 as a two-year Master’s programme. Then the Department itself was renamed as the Department of Political Science and Sociology. Under the headship of the renowned writer Badruddin Umar, a number of teachers trained in sociology were recruited in the following years. Late Quazi Hasibul Hossain, a Master of Anthropology from Calcutta University, joined as the first teacher of sociology. Khaled Hassan, Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury, Ahbab Ahmed, and Abdul Quadir Bhuiyan subsequently joined the Department immediately after obtaining their Master’s degree from the University of Dhaka. Meanwhile, in 1969, during the headship of renowned scholar Abdul Majid Khan the Sociology Programme was merged with the Department of Social Work (previously School of Social Work). But the merger was effective only for one year when, after the joining of Fazlur Rashid Khan, from the Department of Sociology, Dhaka University, in November 1969, a move was made to establish an independent Department of Sociology. The dream was realized during the 1970-71 session by enrolling students for the Three-year Honours Programme. Fazlur Rashid Khan became the first Head of the Department. He later took over the Chairmanship of the Department as per the Rajshahi University Act 1973.

The 1970s was the formative period for the Department when a good number of teachers joined the department and went abroad for higher training. The new recruits were Jharna Nath, M Hafizullah, AHM Zehadul Karim, Anwarul Islam, Mokerram Hossain, Syeda Roushan Quadir, Shamsul Alam, Muhammad Shahidullah, Dewan Shamsul Arefin, Kazi Tobarak Hossain, Abdul Rahman Siddiquee, Nilufar Sultana, Muhammad Mizanuddin, M Faizar Rahman, S M Zillur Rahman and Syed Zahir Sadeque. When Fazlur Rashid Khan went abroad for his PhD. in 1974, Quazi Hasibul Hossain replaced him as the Chaiman. Unfortunately Quazi Hasibul Hossain died in his office room on 14 February. He contributed a lot to develop the Department and the discipline. Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury then became the Chaiman and continued until his departure for his PhD. in 1980. Meanwhile Fazlur Rashid Khan returned and resumed the Chaimanship of the department.

The subsequent Chairmen were Abdul Quadir Bhuiyan, Jharna Nath, Abdur Rahman Siddiquee, A H M Zehadul Karim, Kazi Tobarak Hossain, Muhammad Mizanuddin, S M Zillur Rahaman, A H M Mustafizur Rahman. At present Sultana Mustafa Khanum is working as the Chair. Unfortunately S. M. Zillur Rahaman suddenly left us forever in 2001.

A number of teachers left in the 1970s for higher training and some of them did not return. The teachers who did not came back were Mokerrom Hossain, Anwarul Islam, Dewan Shamsul Arefin, and Muhammad Shahidullah. However, Abdul Quadir Bhuiyan returned after his Ph D programme in 1979. Shamsul Alam faced a premature death immediately after his departure for the PhD programme at Delhi University in 1978. In 1980s, Syed Zahir Sadeque went on lien but did not come back. Zebun Nahar Ahmed did not come back after her departure for higher training. Monirul Islam Khan went to the University of Dhaka. In 1990s Shwkat Sharif went for higher training and did not come back. M Anwar Hossain and Shahadat Hossain went to the National University and University of Dhaka respectively in 1990s.

Degrees Offered:

Bachelor of Social Science (with honours) or (BSS Honours) in Sociology (Four-year Programme)

Master of Social Science or MSS in Sociology (One year Programme)

Master of Philosophy or M Phil.

Doctor of Philosophy or PhD.

In the past students were required to complete eight and four one year courses in the three-year Honours Programme and one-year Master’s Prgramme respectively. Besides, at the undergraduate level, they had to read two subsidiary subjects as well. The courses offered at that time were Principle of Sociology, Social Anthropology, Social Structure of Bangladesh, Rural and Urban Sociology, Family and Population, Statistics, and Social Psychology at the undergraduate level and Modern Sociological Theory, Social Stratification, Criminology and Population Problems at the Master’s level. From 1996, an integrated system of 1200 marks was introduced so that students would not have to take subsidiary subjects. Also in 1996, a four-year Honours Programme (each year is called a Part) was introduced with 23 courses. This time the compulsory and optional courses covered a wide range of areas. At the Master’s (MSS) level students are now required to take five course with the option for Thesis writing. The titles of the latest courses are given below.

Titles of the Courses being Offered Presently

B S S Honours Programme

Session 2004-2005

Part 1

Course Course Title Marks

SOC 101 Introductory Sociology 100

SOC 102 Introductory Anthropology 100

SOC 103 Social Psychology 100

SOC 104 Social History and Civilisations 100

SOC 105 Society and Culture of Ancient Bengal 100

Viva Voce 50 -------------------------

Total 550

Part 2

Course Course Title Marks

SOC 201 Basic Research Methodology 100

SOC 202 Economy and Society 100

SOC 203 Rural Sociology 100

SOC 204 Environment and Society 100

SOC 205 Ancient and Medieval Social Thought 100

SOC 206 Statistics for Social Analysis 100

Viva Voce 50

------------------------

Total 650

Part 3

Course Course Title Marks

SOC 301 Classical Sociological Theory 100

SOC 302 Marriage family & Kinship in South Asia 100

SOC 303 Social Structure of Bangladesh 100

SOC 304 Social Gerontology 100

SOC 305 Criminology 100

SOC 306 Qualitative Research Methodology 100

SOC 307 Sociology of Disaster 50

SOC 308 Women and Health 50

Viva Voce 50

-------------------------

Total 650

Part 4

Course Course Title Marks

SOC 401 Social and Cultural Change 100

SOC 402 Sociology of Religion 100

SOC 403 Medical Sociology 100

SOC 404 Sociology of Poverty 100

SOC 405 Gender and Society 100

SOC 406 Political Development in Bangladesh 100

SOC 407 Sociology of Education 100

SOC 408 Industrial Sociology 50

SOC 409 Bangladesh Studies 50

Research Monograph 50

Viva Voce ------------------------

Total 650

M S S Programme

Session 2004-2005

Course Course Title Marks

SOC 501 Advanced Sociological Theory 100

SOC 502 Social Inequality 100

SOC 503 Political Sociology 100

SOC 504 Sociology of Development &

Underdevelopment 100

SOC 505 Social Demography 100

SOC 506 Urban Sociology 100

Thesis 150

Tutorial 50

Terminal 25

Viva Voce 25

Viva Voce for Thesis 50

-----------------------

Total 600

M Phil. / Ph D. Programmes

Course work for one year for both programmes, with one year supervised thesis writing for the M Phil. Programme and about three years of supervised thesis writing for the PhD. Programme.

Courses offered

Course Course Title Marks

SOC 601 Sociological Theory & Perspectives 50

SOC 602 Bangladesh Society & Culture 50

SOC 603 Research Methodology 50

SOC 604 Statistical Analysis 50

---------------------

Total 200

Current Faculty Members

At present the number of teachers in the department is 19 with wide ranging specialization and training at home and abroad. The names, degrees and area of training/specialization of the faculty are as follows:

Professor Abdul Quadir Bhuiyan

M A (Sociology), Ph D (Sociology, Delhi University).

Professor Muhammad Mizanuddin

M A (Sociology, University of Rajshahi), M A (Sociology, University of Alberta), Ph D (Sociology, Jawarlal University).

Professor Kazi Tobarak Hossain,

M A (Sociology, University of Dhaka), M A (Anthropology, Syracuse University).

Professor Abdur Rahman Siddiquee

M A (Sociology, University of Dhaka), Ph D (Anthropology, University of Ranchi).

Professor Muhammad Hasan Imam

M A (Sociology, University of Rajshahi), M S (Rural Sociology, University of the Philippines at Los Banos).

Professor A H M Mustafizur Rahman

M A (Sociology, University of Rajshahi), M S (Rural Sociology, University of the Philippines at Los Banos).

Professor Sultana Mustafa Khanum

M A (Sociology, University of Rajshahi), Ph D (Anthropology, Keele University). Present Chairman of the Department.

Professor M Faizar Rahman

M A (Sociology, University of Rajshahi), Ph D (Sociology, University of Rajshahi).

Nilufar Sultana, Associate Professor.

M A (Sociology, University of Dhaka).

A K M Shafiul Islam, Associate Professor

M A (Sociology, University of Rajshahi),

Ph D (Sociology, University of Rajshahi).

Shah Ehsan Habib, Associate Professor

M S S (Sociology, University of Dhaka), Ph D (Sociology, University of New Castle).

Wardatul Akmam, Associate Professor.

M S S (Sociology, University of Rajshahi), M A (Sociology, Macmaster University), Ph D (Environmental Economics, University of Tsukuba).

Zulfiquar Ali Islam, Associate Professor.

M A (Sociology, University of Rajshahi), Ph D (Sociology, University of Rajshahi).

M Siddiqur Rahman, Assistant Professor

M S S (Sociology, University of Dhaka) on study leave for Ph D at Malaysia.

Sabyasachi Saha, Assistant Professor

M S S (Sociology, University of Rajshahi).

S M Imtiaz, Assistant Professor.

M S S (Sociology, University of Rajshahi).

Bijoy Krishna Banik, Assistant Professor

M S S (Sociology, University of Dhaka).

Mahbuba Sarkar, Assistant Professor

M S S (Sociology, University of Rajshahi).

Shaikh Mohammad Kais, Assistant Professor.

M S S (Sociology, University of Dhaka).

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