In the name of God
2nd Biruni InterdesciplinaryInternational Conference
On the Occasion of the Commemoration of
The 1041st Birth Anniversary of the Great Iranian Scholar Abu Rayhan Biruni
Title: First International InterdesciplinaryConference on Regional Development and World Peace
Theme: Biruni was a Pathfinder of Regional Co-operation, Inter-Cultural relations, Coexistence and Peace
Date: 22 – 24 October 2014
Venue: Nawab Nawbab Ali Chowdhury Senate House Conference Hall, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Abstracts Submission: by 15 May 2014 [Abstracts other than English should be translated into English]
Acceptance: by 20 May 2014
Full paper: by 15 August 2014
Acceptance: by 30 September 2014
Registration: Open from 1 May to 30 September 2014 [registration form will be available with the conference website soon]
Fees: Delegates from Europe, America and other developed countries: $ 150
Delegates from Malaysia, Turkey, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries: $ 100
Delegates from Pakistan, India and other countries of the world: $ 50
Local Delegates: 1500 BDT
Local MPhil and PhD Students: 500 BDT
Participants: $ 50
Local participants BDT 1000
It is worthwhile to mention that these fees substantiate the cost of two lunches, tea and coffee in various times, the publication abstract souvenir, collection of accepted papers and the conference kit.
*Virtual Registration: $ 50 [Without physical attendance; participation by the submission of abstract and paper only]
Foreign Students $ 20
Local 1500 BDT
*These fees substantiate the cost of the publication of abstract souvenir and the collection of accepted papers.
Publication: All accepted papers will be published as a special publication with an ISBN number. The author will be also sent a printed copy of the publication after the conference finishes.
Programme: Will be available with the conference website by 1st week of October 2014
Accommodation: please see the Grants and Accommodation below
Grants: limited number of bursary for local hospitality available for those who sends their abstract and article in time and get registered as early as possible. The grant will be awarded on the basis of real need for the applicant and the quality of paper.
Organized by: Abu Rayhan Biruni Foundation (ARBF), Dhaka, Bangladesh
Contact: Dr Abu Musa Mohammad Arif Billah, [PhD from School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London],
Chairman, Biruni Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Ex- Chairman and Associate Professor, Department of Persian language and literature, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Mobile: 01758746905; E-mail: ; ;
[Please see also sections submission of Abstract and submission paper below]
Conference Experts’ Panel:
Dr. Sirajul Islam, Ex- President, Asiatic Society, Bangladesh and Professor of History (Rt.), Dhaka University
Dr. Bruce B. Lawrence, Emeritus Professor of Islamic Studies, Duke University, U S A
Dr. Shamsher Ali, former Vice Chancellor of Open University and Southeast University, Dhaka, Ex-Professor of Physics Department, Dhaka University
Dr. Hans Harder, Professor of South Asian Languages and Literature (Modern Indology), South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, Germany
Dr. Mufakkharul Islam, Ex- Vice Chancellor, National University, Bangladesh; Professor of History, Dhaka University
Dr. A F M Yusuf Haider Ex – Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka, Prof. of Physics, University of Dhaka.
Dr. Kazi Shahidullah, Ex- Vice Chancellor, National University, Bangladesh; Professor of History, Dhaka University
Dr. Kazem Kahdouei, Professor, Department of Persian Literature, University of Yazd, Yazd, Iran
Dr. Ali Asgar Mosleh, Department of Philosophy, Allamah Tabatabayi University, Tehran, Iran
Dr. Nimatullah Iranzadeh, Visiting Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Dhaka University
Dr. Kulsoom Abul Bashar, Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, University of Dhaka
Dr. Nurul Amin Bepary, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka
Dr. A. I. Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, Ex- Chairman and Professor, Department of Sociology, Dhaka University
Introduction
ساقی حدیث سرو و گل و لاله میرود وین بحث به ثلاثۀ غساله میرود
شکر شکن شوند همۀ طوطیان هند زین قند فازسی که به بنگاله میرود (حافظ)
[O Cupbearer! the tale of Cypress, the Rose and the Tulip is going on
And with the three washers this dispute is going on
All the parrots of Hindustan become sugar shatterers
As this sugar candy of Farsi (Persian) to Bengal is going on (Hafiz of Shiraz)]
On the occasion of the observance of the 1041st birth anniversary of Abu Rayhan Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Biruni (973 – 1048 AD), Abu Rayhan Biruni Foundation, Dhaka, considering the contemporary regional crisis and persisting world problems, announces the First International Conference on Regional Development and World Peace and hereby calls informative academic research papers by the scholars at home and abroad. Abu Rayhan Biruni was born on 5 September 973 AD in Kath in the region of Khawarizm of the then Iran (nowadays an independent state of Uzbekistan) and died on 13th December 1048 AD in the city of Ghazni, the capital city of the then Ghaznavid ruler. He was a visionary and highly academic philosopher and scientist. He contributed to the fields of science, philosophy, history, culture and society. His generous non-partisan as well as philanthropic views and efforts contributed a lot to the educational, scientific and inter-cultural development of the world which also helped bring into being the level of intellectuality and humanism as well as coexistence and peace. Regional development is, indeed, an idea of multiplicity and plurality denoting the meaning of common efforts or initiatives in order to comply with the developing plan drawn by the authorities of the respective neighbouring countries. In regard to address the prevailing hostile situation in many parts of the world and to ensure a sustainable peace there, more responsible and credible action of international community is needed today. The contemporary world problems indicate a complete failure of the United Nations Organisation as well as other international institutions: O I C, Non-Alliance Movement etc. The problems of Kashmir, Palestine, and many other regional issues such as Farakka, Tipai Mukh and Tista barrages etc. have been continuing for decades defying hundreds of official resolutions by the U N O and by the officials of regional concerned states. There seems to be a perpetual conflict developed in the Middle East since the emergence of Israel in the land of Palestine by the direct interference of Britain and the U N O. Similarly, the role of politicians in many countries also appears to be ineffective and virtually futile to bring about any useful solution for the issues. Hence, it is time for the academics, researchers and literati as well as scholars to step forward to address these issues with the spirit of responsibility, sincerity and finally of the aspiration towards prevailing peace and sustainable development, considering the fragile security and safety conditions of the contemporary world.
The proposed conference is of an interdisciplinary nature and will provide a scope for the writers, researchers and academicians to come up with their resourceful papers, recommendations and suggestions. We hope this effort will help our people, especially, those involved in ruling the countries in question, as well as, the international community in general to understand the contemporary situation and find a way forward to get rid of it. Hence, we hope the researchers, Professors, teachers as well as outstanding research students from all over the world especially from Europe, America, Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will participate in this interdisciplinary congress by sending their abstracts and papers as well as by presenting them for the audience.
The presented papers will be published as ‘Collection of papers’ with ISBN number after reviewing and necessary editing by the members of expert panel and editorial board.
Dr. Abu Musa Mohammad Arif Billah
Chairman, Abu Rayhan Biruni Foundation (ARBF)
Convenor, 2nd Biruni International Conference
Panels:
Panel One: Inter-cultural relations, Coexistence and peace, Comparative religion and development studies
Convenor: Dr. Ali Asgar Mosleh;
Co-convenor: Dr. Abu Musa Mohammad Arif Billah;
Topics
a) Biruni as a courier of inter-cultural relations, coexistence and peace and regional development
b) Biruni is a great tolerant and liberal Muslim thinker
c) Contribution of Biruni to philosophy, history and international relations
d) The patterns of multi-culturalism and multi-lingualism in the contemporary world
e) Biruni’s contribution to the field of Comparative religion
f) Cultural distinctions and its multiple ways of development
g) Contribution of religion in the development of conciliatory and peaceful relationships
h) Globalization and peace
i) Tārīkhūl Hind / thāru’l Bāqiyah of Biruni: historical determinism and modern historiography
j) Biruni is a symbol of cultural unity among Iran, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
Panel Two: Science and scientific studies
Convenor: Dr. A M sarwaruddin Chowdhury;
Co-Convenor:
Topics:
a) Contribution of Biruni to planetary science and astronomy
b) Mathematical development to the period contemporary to Biruni
c) Development of physics, mathematics, medical sciences from the first millennium B C to date
d) Contribution of Biruni to Indian medicine
e) Biruni was a bridge of scientific co-operation between Persia, India and Greece
f) Muslim contributions to science, philosophy and religion
g) Scientific studies by the Muslims during the period prior to Biruni
Panel Three: South Asia and democracy studies
Convenor: Dr. Sabbir Ahmed;
Co-convenor: Dr. Ali Ashraf;
Topics:
a) Emergence of Bangladesh – vision and reality
b) Practice of democracy and constitutional obligations
c) Power, politics and democracy in the contemporary world
d) Facets of democracy in south asia
e) Crisis with the contemporary democracy and a cry for finding an alternative
Panel Four: Regional cooperation and development studies
Convenor: Dr. Muhammad Qumrul Hassan;
Co-convenor: Dr. Maimul Ahsan Khan;
Topics:
a) Regional co-operation and development
b) Water sharing an important issue of Indo-Bangla relationship
c) The effects of Farakka Barrage on agriculture, fisheries and environment in Bangladesh
d) Inpact of Farakka on the Padma river and hilsha cultivation
e) Revisit Indo-Bangla trade relations
Panel Five: Identity Society and cultural hegemony studies
Convenor: Dr. Mobasher Munem;
Co-convenor: Mr. Abu Hossain Muhammad Ahsan;
Topics:
a) Identity, culture and development
b) Hindi aggression and the future prospect of Bangladeshi culture
c) Impact of Hindi movies and serials on Bangladeshi society and culture
d) Mal-practices of democracy and the scope of sustainable development
e) Necessity of construction and reconstruction in searching an alternative social structure
Panel Six: Peace and conflict studies
Convenor: Dr. Abu Musa Mohammad Arif Billah;
Co-convenor: Mr. Saifuddin Ahmed;
Topics:
a) Arab spring and its impact in middle eastern politics
b) The roots of Palestinian and Israeli conflicts
c) The role of imperialism in creating permanent hostility in the Middle East
d) United nations, O I C and the crisis of the Muslim world
e) The veto power and effectiveness of security council in the U N O.
f) Problems and prospects of Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord – 1977
g) The roots of Kashmir problem and the role of U N O
Panel Seven: Iran-Bangla historical, literary and cultural relations studies
Convenor: Dr. Nematullah Iranzadeh;
Co-convenor: Dr. Abu Musa Mohammad Arif Billah;
Topics:
a) Iranian influence on Bangladesh culture
b) Iran-Bangla trade relations during the pre-Muslim and early Muslim periods
c) Influence of Persian on the Bengali language, literature
d) Contribution of Muslim rulers and intelligentsia to the development of Persian literature in Bengal
e) The role of Bengal in the development of Persian, Urdu and Arabic languages and literatures in the region
f) Persian language and literature and Iranian studies in Bangladesh
g) History or the origin and development of Persian literature in Bengal
h) Translation of Persian books and poems into Bengali
i) Contribution of Sharafuddin Abu Tawwama/ Minhaz Shiraz/ Nur Qutbe Alam/ Muhammad Sadiq/ Abdul Gafur Nassakh, and Obaidullah Sohrawardi to Persian literature.
j) Bengal was a cradle for Persian language, literature and culture
Panel Eight: Religion, Islamic Banking and development studies
Convenor: Mr. Wali-ul-Maroof Matin;
Co-convenor: Dr. Abu Musa Mohammad Arif Billah;
Topics:
a) Islam and poverty elevation: special reference to Zakat
b) Islamic Economics for the promotion of equality and justice
c) Islamic economic system and the crisis with the western economic system and the contemporary facets of socialism
d) Spiritual and ethical foundation of Islamic Finance vis-à-vis western thoughts of laissez-faire and socialism.
e) Islamic Banking, Insurance, stock market and derivatives through the eyes of Sharia
f) Islamic banking verses a secular finance system for making more profit and minimising risk
g) Role of Islamic Economics towards promoting peace and development
h) Impact of faith to regional co-operation and world peace
i) Islamic banking is the means of exploitation free system of banking
The proposed topics are the guidelines for the contributors. Any topic relevant to the theme as well as panels of the conference will also be welcomed.
Authors’ Guidelines:
a) Length of abstract: 200-250 words including the purpose, methodology and conclusion.
b) Key words: up to 7 words
c) First page include: first name, family name, current position and affiliation, Tel & Fax no., legal residential addressand email
d) Length of paper: up to 5000 words (abstract & bibliography included)
e) Literature references: inside the text as (Ashraf, 1980: 20)
f) Sources: sorted at the end of paper as: Ashraf, Ali, (1983) Muslim Traditions in Bengali Literature, Dhaka: Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh.
g) Paper should be original and exclusively submitted to the conference.
h) C.V. (personal statement) in a separate file up to 250 words
All good quality research papers will be published as ‘Biruni Commemoration Volumes – 2014, University of Dhaka’ after reviewing and necessary editing by the members of expert panel and editorial board.
Submission of Abstracts: Please submit your abstract direct to the e-mail of the convenor and co-convenor of your panel and send a cc copy to ;
Submission of papers: Please submit your paper direct to the e-mail of the convenor and co-convenor of your panel and send a cc copy to ;