51cg

Biography

Md. Bakebillah is a Doctoral Fellow in Folklore and Ecomusicology at the Elphinstone Institute, 51cg, Scotland, United Kingdom. His research examines how indigenous knowledge and local knowledge (IKLK) systems and musical traditions support natural resource management and enhance climate resilience in coastal communities in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest.

Previously, he completed an MSc in Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, in 2025. He also completed his Master’s and Bachelor of Arts degrees at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, receiving his BA in 2013 and MA in 2014. Since 2016, he has served as a faculty member in Folklore in the Faculty of Social Science at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh, Bangladesh, and is currently on study leave.

He has published two books and several journal articles in both Bengali and English on climate change, peace and sustainability, community development, folklore and indigenous culture, and literature.

External Memberships

British Forum of Ethnomusicology (BFE): Since June 2026.

Prizes and Awards

• Awarded (2nd position for a group project) in the Georgia Tech Shenzhen institute-Tianjin University-AIT International Camp, 15-21 December 2023, Hosted by Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.
• Student Assistant: Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (September 2023 – May 2025).
• Award (3rd position) and grants received for a paper entitled Climate Migration of the Coastal Region in Bangladesh: An Overview, Seminar on Gender, Environment and Displacement conducted for World Climate Action Day, Organized by Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, Venue: Hotel Ambassador, Bangkok, 24 October 2023.
• Middle Bengali Retreat Fellowship 2019, Department of South Asian Language and Civilization, University of Chicago, USA.
• Great Indian Epics Fellowship 2018, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies, Bhubaneswar, India.
• Akkhoykumar Sen Sarma Gold Medal 2014, University of Dhaka.
• Dean’s Award, Faculty of Arts 2014, University of Dhaka.
• Professor-Kabi Mohammad Moniruzzaman Gold Medal 2013, University of Dhaka.
• Salimullah Muslim Hall Scholarship 2013, University of Dhaka.
• Junior Education (Grade 8) Scholarship 2004, (Position: 2nd in District of Satkhira).
• Primary Education (Grade 5) Scholarship 2001, (Position: 1st in Kaligonj Upazila).

Research Overview

Mr. Bakebillah’s research focuses on environmental folklore, climate change, development and sustainability. He seeks to understand how local and indigenous coastal communities manage natural resources and enhance climate resilience through their own knowledge systems, including beliefs, rituals, narratives, practices, behaviours, and musical traditions, which are transmitted from generation to generation.

Current Research

PhD project: Title: The Folk Deity Bonbibi: Locally Driven Knowledge Systems and Musical Traditions to Natural Resource Management and Climate Resilience in the Sundarbans Coastal Regions

Past Research

• Bakebillah, Md., Alam, M., Ahmad, M. M., Pramanik, M., Fahim, M. U., & Hosen, M. S. (2026). Tracing COVID-19 impacts and recovery experiences among traditional Malakar craft-makers in Naogaon District, Bangladesh. Development in Practice, 1–16.
• Bakebillah, Md., & Ahmad, M. M. (2024). Half a Decade of the Rohingya Refugee Crisis: The Threats to Peace and Sustainability in Bangladesh. In A. Sharifi, J. L. Candelaria, D. Simangan, & S. Kaneko (Eds.), Navigating Peace and Sustainability in an Increasingly Complex World (pp. 137–157). Springer Nature Singapore.
• Bakebillah, Md., Billah, Md. A., Wubishet, B. L., & Khan, Md. N. (2021). Community’s misconception about COVID-19 and its associated factors in Satkhira, Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE, 16(9), e0257410. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257410Under Review Article

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Funding and Grants

Research Project

• The Folk Deity Bonbibi: Locally Driven Knowledge Systems and Musical Traditions to Natural Resource Management and Climate Resilience in the Sundarbans Coastal Regions, funded by the 51cg, UK and University Grants Commission of Bangladesh.
• Climate Change-Induced Heatwaves Impacts on Informal Settlements: Evidence from Dhaka, Bangladesh, funded by the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand and Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Bangladesh.
• The Livelihood of Malakar Folk Community and Impact of Covid-19 on their Profession: A Study on Rural Economy of Bangladesh, (2021 - 2022), A Research Project of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University under the University Grant Commission, Bangladesh. (Collaborate with Professor Dr. Nahid Sattar, Bangladesh Agriculture University).
• Impact of COVID-19 on Folk Profession of Sudarban Region, (2020 - 2021), A Research Project of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University under the University Grant Commission,

Development Project

• Project Holder of Women Leaders,Funded by European Union in collaboration with BRAC University. (January - December 2021).