Professor A. Z. M. Iftikhar-ul-Awwal

Abu Zaher Muhammad Iftikhar-ul-Awwal is a Professor in Selection Grade, and former Chairman of the Department of History at the University of Dhaka. He is primarily interested in the Economic History of Bengal during British colonial rule. Many of his articles relating to the topic of industrial development and economic condition of colonial Bengal have been published in peer-reviewed journals and books. His most important work is the monograph called 'The Industrial Development of Bengal, 1900-1939', which was published in 1982. He is the editor of two important books - 'Photographic Album of Old Dhaka' (2003) and 'Aitihāsika Ḍhākā mahānagarī, bibartana o sambhābanā' (Historical City of Dhaka: Evolution and Prospects)(2003). He has written chapters in scholarly books such as Dwijendra Tripathi edited 'State and Business in India' (1987); Prof. Sirajul Islam edited 'History of Bangladesh, 1704-1971, vol.2' (1992); Prof. Mufakharul Islam edited 'Socio-economic History of Bangladesh' (2004); and in 'Hundred Years of Bangabhaban, 1905-2005' (2006). Many of his articles were also published in organizational newsletters and leading Bangladeshi newspapers.

Iftikhar-ul-Awwal was born in Dhaka on 30th December, 1947, and had his schooling at Faujdarhat Cadet College, Chittagong. He won the Talent Scholarship for his Secondary School Certificate examination results in 1966, and later on won the Chairman's Silver Medal by the Governing Body of Faujdarhat Cadet College for securing Fifth position in the Higher Secondary Certificate Examination in Comilla Board in 1968. He also secured the Inter-wing Scholarship in 1968, and went on to study in Government College Lahore at University of the Punjab, and subsequently graduated with honours in History in 1971. He was awarded the academic Roll of Honour by Government Collage Lahore for obtaining First position in First Class in his B.A. (Hons.) examinations. He obtained his M.A. in History from University of Dhaka in 1972, and won the Dhaka University Book Prize for securing First position in First Class in his M.A. examinations. After securing the Commonwealth Scholarship (1974-77), he went on to study in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London for his PhD in 1974. He studied under the supervision of Professor K. N. Chaudhuri, and subsequently obtained his PhD in January, 1979.

Professor Awwal held Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania & Temple University, Philadelphia (under American Research Fellowship Award by United States Information Agency, 1988); in SOAS at the University of London (under Commonwealth Fellowship, 1988-89); and in the Institute of Oriental Culture at the University of Tokyo (under Japan Foundation Fellowship, 1995-96).

Iftikhar-ul-Awwal joined the University of Dhaka as a Lecturer of History in 1973, and currently serving as a Selection Grade Professor at the same University. Professor Awwal was the Chairman of the Department of History at University of Dhaka from 1999 to 2002. He served as the Director General of Bangladesh National Museum from 2002 to 2004.

https://univdhaka.academia.edu/AZMIftikharulAwwal
http://www.researchgate.net/profile/A_Z_M_Iftikhar-Ul-Awwal
http://www.mendeley.com/profiles/a-z-m-iftikhar-ul-awwal/
http://www.scribd.com/azmiawwal/documents
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