I am a PhD student of social anthropology at York University, Canada and a Graduate Associate at the York Centre for Asian Research (YCAR). I have an MA in sociocultural anthropology from the University of Western Ontario, Canada and an MA in development studies from BRAC University.
I have worked as the coordinator of the International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC) for six years from 2009-2015. The CHTC is an independent body working to promote respect for human rights, democracy, and restoration of civil and political rights, participatory development and land rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, including examination of the implementation of the CHT Accord of 1997. I am also a freelance writer and have previously worked as the Assistant Editor of the Forum magazine, a monthly news magazine of The Daily Star and as a Feature Writer for The Star magazine, a weekly magazine of The Daily Star. I have written about the rights of Bangladeshi migrant workers, Urdu-speaking groups of Bangladesh, sexual harassment of women, abuse of domestic workers, and the rights of the Jumma people in the CHT.
I am a member of South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional adviser for Bangladesh at the Urgent Action Fund for Women Human Rights (UAF), a member of the Knowledge Building Working Group, Asia-Pacific Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security (APWAPS), a board member of Safety and Rights Society (SRS), an advisor for Bangladesh at South Asia Women’s Fund (SAWF) and a member of Moulik Odhikar Shurokkha Committee (Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights).
My MA thesis titled, ‘Tourism and state violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh’ can be downloaded here. If you want to contact me, please email me at: ahmedhs@yorku.ca
Hana Shams Ahmed 