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Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies

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Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies

Abu Salah Md Yousuf

Abu Salah Md Yousuf

Former Research Director , Strategic Studies

Mr. Abu Salah Md. Yousuf is a highly accomplished Bangladeshi security analyst, geopolitical strategist, and academic. Latest, he served as the Research Director of Strategic Studies Division at the premier, statutory state think-tank functioning under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh - Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). With a career spanning several years in strategic research, Mr. Yousuf is widely recognized as a leading national security and policy expert on the regional geopolitics of South and Southeast Asia, border security, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian crises.



Personal & Educational Background

Academic Foundations: Mr. Yousuf completed his foundational academic training at the University of Dhaka, where he obtained both his Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSS Hons.) and Master of Social Sciences (MSS) degrees in Political Science. He was later selected as a South Asia Foundation (SAF) Scholar from Bangladesh. He completed his specialized Master degree from the Department of Politics and International Studies (School of Social Sciences and International Studies) at the Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asian Regional Cooperation (UMISARC)- an elite center housed inside Pondicherry University. This program brings top postgraduate students from all eight SAARC nations together to study regional politics, integration, and security. While his degree falls under Political Science, his specific syllabus at Pondicherry University focused heavily on International Relations, South Asian Regional Cohesion, and Conflict Resolution. His research are concentrated on regionalism, national political party frameworks, and state security apparatuses within South Asia among others.



Professional Experience & Career Track
Think-Tank Leadership: Mr. Yousuf has spent a major portion of his career at BIISS. Progressing from Research Fellow to Senior Research Fellow, he was ultimately appointed as Research Director. In this role, he leads high-level security studies and helps formulate foreign policy briefs for the Government of Bangladesh.
Diplomatic & Policy Advisory: He frequently represents Bangladesh at international track-1.5 and track-2 diplomatic roundtables. He routinely provides briefings to international stakeholders—including United States military delegations, European envoys, and foreign ministries—on regional security parameters.



Key Areas of Expertise
The Myanmar and Rohingya Crisis: He is a critical voice on the repatriation infrastructure, security implications, and global coordination efforts regarding the Rohingya refugees. His research covers the domestic political climate of Myanmar and its friction points with Bangladesh.
Geopolitical Dynamics: His work closely explores the strategic triangular relations between Bangladesh, India, and China, especially concerning economic corridors, cross-border security, and maritime safety in the Bay of Bengal.
Counter-Terrorism & Radicalization: He has published extensively on non-state actors, securitization theory, and counter-radicalization policies in South Asia.



Selected Works & Presentations
“Myanmar Crisis and Concerns of Bangladesh: Exploring the Role of France in Mitigation” (Presented to Special Envoys at BIISS Strategic Dialogue, 2025).
“Strengthening Bangladesh-US Cooperation for Dignified Repatriation of the Rohingyas” (BIISS-US State Dept Roundtable, 2023).
“Securitization and Ethnic Violence: Rohingya Minorities in Myanmar” (Published in the peer-reviewed BIISS Journal).
Areas of Expertise
  1. Security and Securitization: Audience Factor in Securitization, Securitization and Ethnic Violence, Securitization of Refugees, National Security and Human security, Comprehensive Security, Sustainable Security, Collective Security and Security Dilemma, International Relations Theories and Security (Structural Realism, Neo- Liberal Institutionalism and Constructivism).
  2. Terrorism: Counterterrorism Strategy, Lone Wolf Terrorism, Terrorist Narratives, Terrorist Groups of Bangladesh, Social Media and Radicalization, Deradicalization.
  3. Non-state Actors (NSAs): Policy Influencing Strategies Used by NSAs-National, Regional and International Level, NSAs in Global Negotiations (counter-terrorism and climate change).
  4. Regionalism: Approaches to Regional Cooperation, SAARC, BIMSTEC on Cyber Security Cooperation.
  5. Bangladesh: Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Making, Geopolitical Strategy and National Security of Bangladesh.
  6. Myanmar: The State, Power Elites, the Military, Ethnic Groups and Democratic Forces, Ethnic Armed Groups (EAGs), The Rohingya Crisis, Geopolitics of Myanmar. China: Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China’s Smart Power.
  7. India: Personality Factor in India’s Foreign Policy Making, India’s Neighbourhood Policy and Bangladesh-India Relations.
  8. Theory: Constructivism and Critical Security.
  9. Methodology: Qualitative Research and Case Study.
  10. Methods: Process Tracing, Discourse Analysis and Content Analysis.
  11. Data Collection: Survey, In-depth Interview, Focused Group Discussion (FGD).
Journal Articles
  1. “Between ‘Stratocracy’ and ‘Moral Democracy’: An Appraisal of Myanmar’s Political Transition under Suu Kyi”, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 41, No. 3, July 2020
  2. “Securitization and Ethnic Violence: Military, Monks and Rohingya Minorities in Myanmar”, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 41, No. 2, April 2020.
  3. “Beyond State Centrism: Regional Cooperation Approaches and Non-state Actors” BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 41, No. 1, January 2020.
  4. “State, Nationality and Power Elites: The Politics of Nationalism in Myanmar”, with D. Purushothaman, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 40, No. 3, July 2019
  5. “Myanmar’s Peace Process Under Suu Kyi: Understanding the Fault Lines”, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 39, No. 4, October 2018.
  6. “Countering Lone Wolf Terrorism: Challenges and Strategies”, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 38, No. 4, October 2017.
  7. “Non-state Actors in Global Climate Negotiations: Policy Influencing Strategies and Challenges”, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 34, No. 4, October 2015.
  8. “Challenges of India’s Global Emergence” with Mohammad Jasim Uddin, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 35, No. 3, July 2014.
  9. “Evolving Trends of UN Peacekeeping: Challenges for Bangladesh” with Md. Farid Uddin, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 35, No. 2, April 2014.
  10. “Economic Integration in South Asia”, with Mohammad Jasim Uddin, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 34, N0. 1, January 2013.
  11. “US Sanctions against Iran: Implications for the Islamic Republic and Beyond”, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 33, No. 2, July 2012.
  12. “Global War on Terror: Post- Bin Laden Dimensions” with Mohammad Jasim Uddin, International Journal of South Asian Studies, (ISSN 0974-2514), Vol. 4, No. 2, July-December 2011.
  13. “The European Convention on Human Rights: Protection of Individual Rights in the Age of Globalisation”, with Mohammad Jasim Uddin, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 32, No. 4, October 2011.
  14. “Indo-Russian Partnership: Emerging Dynamics”, with Bibhuti Bhusan Biswas, PhD., BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 32, No. 3, July 2011.
  15. “Political Parties and Parliamentary Democracy: The Experience of Bangladesh” International Journal of South Asian Studies (ISSN 0974-2514), Vol. 3, No. 2, July-December 2010.
  16. “Political Developments in Myanmar: New Constitution, International Concerns and Strategies of Military”, BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 30, No. 3, July 2009.
  17. “Crisis in Georgia: Understanding its Nature and Implications” with Abul Kalam Azad, Ph.D., BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 29, No. 4, October 2008.
  18. “Indo-US Strategic Partnership: Implications for South Asia”, with M. Jashim Uddin, Ph.D., BIISS Journal (ISSN 1010-9536), Vol. 28, No. 4, July 2007.
Book Chapters
  1. “Remaking of India’s Public Diplomacy in South Asia: Modi’s Neighbourhood First Policy and Bangladesh”, in Bibhuti Bhusan Biswas (ed.), Soft Power and Public Diplomacy of India and China, New Delhi: Indu Book Services Pvt. Ltd., 2020.
  2. “Regional Counterterrorism Strategy: A Focus on South Asia” in Bibhuti Bhusan Biswas (ed.), Internal Changes in South Asia: Challenges and Opportunities, New Delhi: Indu Book Services, 2018.
  3. “India’s Energy Support for Bangladesh: Reflection of Soft Power”, in Satish Kumar and Bhibuti Bhusan Biswas (eds.), Modi’s Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power: Issues and Challenges, New Delhi: ANSH Book International, 2016.
  4. “National Security and Foreign Policy of Bangladesh 2008”, with A.K.M Abdus Sabur and M. Jashim Uddin, Ph.D., a book chapter in “National Security of Bangladesh 2008” edited by Sheikh Md Monirul Islam (Dhaka: BIISS, 2009).
  5. “International System: The Role of Diplomacy in the Context of Bangladesh”, with A.K.M Abdus Sabur and A.B.M Ziaur Rahman, a book chapter in “Whither National Security: Bangladesh 2007”, Chapter-3, edited by Mufleh R. Osmany, (Dhaka: The University Press Limited, 2008).