About the Bengal Institute of History & Ideas
The Bengal Institute of History & Ideas (BIHI) is an esteemed research institute committed to exploring the rich tapestry of Bengal's intellectual history. Our mission is to investigate the evolution and impact of ideas that have shaped Bengali society, culture, and thought across various historical epochs.
At BIHI, we engage in interdisciplinary research that delves into the formation, circulation, and transformation of knowledge within Bengal. Our team of dedicated scholars works collaboratively to advance critical inquiry and produce scholarly publications that illuminate the intellectual foundations of Bengali civilization. We aim to foster a deeper understanding of Bengal's unique contributions to global knowledge and culture.
Our Team
Our team comprises a diverse group of scholars and researchers who are passionate about uncovering the complexities of Bengal’s intellectual legacy. With expertise spanning various disciplines, our researchers are committed to contributing to the field through rigorous scholarship and innovative research practices.
Mehedi Hasan
Director of Academic Affairs
Mehedi Hasan is the Director of Academic Affairs at BIHI and an independent scholar with an academic background in Sociology. From 2002 to 2021, he worked as a research assistant to the renowned polymath Professor Dr. Muin-ud-Din Ahmed Khan, receiving extensive training in the history, philosophy, and methodology of science. His research interests include Classical and Modern Sociological Theory, the Social History of Bengal, Islamic Truath, the Philosophy of Science, Wittgenstein and Heidegger Studies.He is currently working on two research projects. One studies the microhistory of an educational institution founded by a medieval Bengali Sultan, while the other examines the structural history of Bangladesh from 1971 to 2024.
Ahmed Din Rumi
Director of Research
Ahmed Din Rumi is the Research Director at BIHI and a writer with postgraduate training in Islamic History and Culture. His scholarship focuses on the cultural and intellectual history of religions, with particular attention to vernacular Islamic traditions in Bengal and the formation of religious narratives. He is the author of Mahdiyat: History, Politics and Religions and has conducted research on the historical development of Hatem Tai narratives in Bengal. His current research project examines the local performing art of Ekdil as a cultural process of Islamisation in Bengal.
.jpeg)
Tahsin Bin Basher
Direction of Operations
Tahsin Bin Bashar studied Development Studies at the University of Dhaka. His interests later expanded into spirituality, with a special focus on Islamic spirituality, aesthetics, and the expression of spiritual ideas through art. He currently serves as the Director of Operations at BIHI.
Abu Sayed
Director of Programs
Mohammad Abu Sayed is an avid reader, writer, and historical researcher, with a specialized focus on the history and heritage of the Sufi community in Bengal. To date, he has authored five published volumes. He is slated to provide strategic and executory leadership for the formal programs at Bihi.
Arif Billah
Associate Director of Research
Arif Billah serves as Associate Director of Research at the Bengal Institute of History and Ideas (BIHI). His work focuses on philosophy, intellectual history, and the Islamic scholarly tradition, with particular interest in philosophical language, translation, and the transmission of Greek and Islamic thought in Bengali.
Asiful Abedin
Research Assistant
Asiful Abedin is a Research Assistant whose work focuses on the political, social, and intellectual history of colonial Bengal. His research interests include Muslim politics, Islamic revival and reform movements, and Muslim intellectual history in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Bengal.