Full-Time Faculty
Associate Professor
Ph.D. in Journalism, City St. George's, University of London, UK
M.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka
Phone: +880-2-55668200 Ext: 6154
Email: rezwan.alam01@northsouth.edu
Office: NAC 903
Dr. S. M. Rezwan Ul Alam is an associate professor at the Department of Political Science and Sociology at North South University (NSU). With over three decades of experience, he brings an exceptional record of academic, communication, and public service leadership. His expertise lies in media and journalism studies, strategic communication, democratic governance, anti-corruption advocacy, and development policy. Dr. Alam previously held senior roles at globally recognized institutions, including Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), UNICEF, the World Bank, and the Government of Bangladesh.
Dr. Alam holds a PhD in journalism from City St. George's, University of London (1997), under the Commonwealth Scholarship, with earlier master's and honors degrees in mass communication and journalism from the University of Dhaka.
He is the author of the highly acclaimed book titled "Military-Media Relations in Bangladesh, 1975-1990." http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-64329) and the Bangla adaptor of "NEXUS" by Yuval Noah Harari and "Human Acts" by Han Kang. His most recent contributions include book adaptations, journal articles, and knowledge products on disinformation, media policy, and communication ethics.
He is a Professional and Lifelong Learning Alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School, USA, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Knowledge for Development Partnership (K4DP), Austria.
Ongoing and Completed Research Projects
Principal Investigator of a CTRG Project: Investigating Compliance Behavior and Democratic Governance in South Asia: The Role of Administrative Burden and Citizens' Expectations, 2025.
Co-author of an abstract presentation: Digital Authoritarianism and Press Freedom in South Asia (South Asia Forum, AEJMC, August 2025)
Book Chapter Contribution, unpublished (2025): The July 2024 Uprising in Bangladesh: Critical Media Perspectives, Bloomsbury Publication
Unpublished Book Chapter Contribution (2023): Blue Paper on Journalism and Communication Education and Development in South and Southeast Asian Countries (2023), by School of Journalism, Yunnan University
Lead Author: Towards Sustainable Journalism in Bangladesh (ITP, Sweden, 2022)
Cited and referenced book
Military-Media Relations in Bangladesh, 1975-1990, Palok Publishers, Dhaka, October 2008
Bangla Adaptations
Bangla adaptation of ‘The Old Regime and the Revolution’ by Alexis de Tocqueville (Unpublished)
Bangla adaptation of ‘A Calendar of Wisdom: Path of Life, A Cycle of Readings or Wise Thoughts for Every Day ' is a collection of insights and wisdom compiled by Leo Tolstoy (Unpublished).
Bangla adaptation of ‘My Confession’ is a short work on the subject of melancholia, philosophy, and religion by the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy (Unpublished).
NEXUS by Yuval Noah Harari (Adapted in Bangla), Somoy Prokashon, Dhaka, 2025
Human Acts by Han Kang, Nobel Laureate in Literature, 2024 (adapted in Bangla, 2025), Somoy Prokashon, Dhaka, 2025
Various Issues of Bangladesh from the US Ambassadors’ Perspectives (Adapted in Bangla), Somoy Prokashon, Dhaka, 2025
Translated eight e-books simplifying COVID-19 issues for young readers in Bangla, various Chinese Publishers, 2021
Mrittu Bishoyok Kothokota (Musings on Death), Palok Publications, Dhaka, 2015
Peer-reviewed Journal Articles
In search of reality of Bangladesh’s Journalism (in Bangla), Communication Journal, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka, 2019
Coverage of Military Coups in Bangladesh Press, Bangladesh Journalism Review, Dhaka, 2008.
Conspiracy by local and foreign journalists in the August coup, Administration, Communication, and Society, a journal of the University of Rajshahi, 1998
Attitude of the Bangladesh Military towards the Media, South Asia Forum, New York, USA, 1997
The Role of the BBC Bengali Service during Ershad’s Rule, Administration, Communication, and Society, a journal of the University of Rajshahi, 1997
Book Chapters
Pandemic Crisis and Democratic Governance in Asia: Country Cases (Bangladesh Case, Chapter 7, Asia Democracy Research Network at East Asia Institute, South Korea, 2021.
SDG 10: Four Years of SDGs in Bangladesh, Non-State Actors as Delivery Partners (One of the Lead Authors), SDG Citizens’ Platform Bangladesh, 2019.
Peer-reviewed Magazine Articles
Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) COVID-19 learning: An analysis, RealKM Magazine, Australia, 2020
Putting knowledge at the heart of our development strategy, RealKM Magazine, Australia: 2021
The report titled "The Compromised State of Civil Society in Bangladesh," published in 2018 by CIVICUS in South Africa, discusses various aspects of civil society.
Working Papers
Pandemic Crisis and Democratic Governance in Bangladesh: An Analysis (2022), ADRN/EAI, South Korea
Pandemic Crisis and Democratic Backsliding in Bangladesh: Further Reflections (2023), ADRN/EAI, South Korea
Seminar Papers
SDG 16 and Good Governance: Government, Mass Media, and Citizens, Bangla, 2017, TI-Bangladesh
Development communication: problems and prospects in Bangladesh, Bangla, 2005, Massline Media Centre
Op-eds
The Daily Star: A call to fill up Bangladesh's empty transparency chairs, 17 July 2025
The Daily Star: What the media opinion survey tells us, 17 February 2025
The Daily Star: In the Era of Social Media, Legacy Media is Indispensable, 5 April 2024
The Daily Star: On Fighting Disinformation during the Next General Election, 14 January 2023
The Daily Star: How can Bangladesh have sustainable journalism and media self-regulation? 5 October 2022
The Business Standard: A model for government, media, and citizens to collaborate on ensuring press freedom, 3 May 2023
Prothom Alo: ভারত–পাকিস্তান: যুদ্ধে সবার আগে জেতে মিথ্যা, 11 May 2025
Prothom Alo: স্বাধীন ও নিরপেক্ষ গণমাধ্যমের জন্য নীতিমালা প্রয়োজন, 13 February 2025
Prothom Alo: বিবিসি বাংলা ও স্বৈরাচারবিরোধী আন্দোলন, 02 January 2023
Mentor of a PhD student, City St. George’s, University of London, 2024
Fellowship in Media Development in a Democratic Framework, Sweden, 2022
The Best Trainee Award, BCS Administration Academy, Shahbag, 1998
Masud Memorial Gold Medal, for jointly securing 1st Class 1st Position, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka, Award received from Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen, 1998
Commonwealth Scholarship by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, 1992–1995.
PhD in Journalism, City St. George’s, University of London (1997)
Master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka (1987), joint 1st Class 1st Position
B.A (Hons) in Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka (1986), 2nd class, 2nd position
Mirzapur Cadet College, HSC (Arts), 3rd in merit list, Dhaka Board (1983)
Mirzapur Cadet College, SSC (Arts), 4th in merit list, Dhaka Board (1981)
North South University, Adjunct Professor, Department of Political Science and Sociology, Course: Television and New Media for Undergraduates (Fall Semester 2021).
University of Professionals (BUP), Adjunct Professor, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Course: Strategic Communication for Master's Students (Fall Semester 2021).
At Independent University, Bangladesh, I served as an Adjunct Faculty (Associate Professor Rank) for the Development Communication course during the autumn semester of 2021, teaching undergraduate students in the Department of Media and Communication.
State University of Bangladesh, Adjunct Faculty (Professor Rank), Department of Journalism, Communication, and Media Studies, Media in Bangladesh, Undergraduate students, two semesters in 2016
Independent University, Bangladesh, Adjunct Faculty (Associate Professor Rank), Department of Media and Communication, 2008-2015, taught both undergraduate and graduate students subjects: Development Communication, Political Economy of Media, Bangladesh Media Law, Media and Globalization, and Bangladesh Media Perspectives. (Taught over 14 semesters during this period).
Director, Knowledge Management, Manusher Jonno Foundation (2018–2021)
Director, Outreach and Communication, TI-Bangladesh (2009-2018)
Senior Communication Officer (Head of Communication), the World Bank Office, Dhaka (2005-2008)
Communication Officer, UNICEF Bangladesh (2001-2005)
Assistant Director and Faculty, Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (2001)
Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka (2001)
Assistant Settlement Officer, Bangladesh Government (1998-2001)
Magistrate, Bangladesh Government (1997-1998)
Staff Reporter, United News of Bangladesh (1991-1992)
CONSULTANCY
English Translation, the Report of the Media Reform Commission, Bangladesh, 2025
Strategy development for Global Platform, ActionAid, Bangladesh, 2021
Communication Strategy of Bangladesh Information Commission, MRDI, 2016
Country Assessor, Government Defense Transparency Index by TI-UK, 2011, 2015, and Co-researcher, 2020.
Peer reviewer of Global Integrity, USA., for its Bangladesh chapter reports 2008 and 2010
Interpersonal, Group, and Organization Communication; Strategic Communication; Introduction to Communication; Bangladesh Media History; Communication Skills for Managers; Television and New Media for Undergraduates; The courses include Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Public Administration, Development Communication, Political Economy of Media, Bangladesh Media Laws, Media and Globalization, and Bangladesh Media Perspectives.
Membership
Editorial Board Member, PAEDEIA Journal and NSU Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, NSU
Member, CPS, NSU.
Knowledge for Development Partnership (K4DP), Member, Board of Directors, Austria
Professional and Lifelong Learning Alumnus, Harvard Kennedy School, USA
The City St George’s, University of London Alumni Network, UK
Member, Bangladesh Association of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows (BACSAF)
Alumnus, International Anti-Corruption Academy, Austria
General Member, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB)
Former Member, American Translators Association
General Member, BCS Administration 15th Batch.
Professional Activities
Panelist, SATV Live Roundtable on Transparency in Media (2025)
Acting Secretary, Board of Trustees, NSU, January-August, 2024
I served as the moderator for an event and Q&A session on International Peace Day 2023 at NSU, where the former US Ambassador to Bangladesh was the chief guest.
Session Chair, International Conference on Innovation and Transformation for Development (ITD) 2024, organized by Green University.
Session Chair, Media Ethics Session, CJEN Networking Conference (2024)
Steered partnership with Channel i for internship of MCJ students, 2024
Director, Public Relations, NSU, 2023
Presenter of a dialogue paper through webinar on SDG 16, Governance & Media, on International Press Freedom Day 2023
External Exam Moderator & Master's Thesis Examiner, University of Dhaka, MCJ Department (2023)
Introduced Media Leadership Programme for MCJ, 2022 ongoing
Steered Prothom Alo-NSU partnership for two scholarships of MCJ students for four years, 2022
Steered partnership with the Asia Foundation Bangladesh for securing book donations for MCJ, 2022
Moderator, Media & Journalism Program Inaugural Panel, NSU (2022)
Panelist on National Security and Media, National Defense College, Mirpur, 2004.
Political Economy of Media and Media's Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity Issues
Defense Sector's Transparency and Accountability Issues.
Public Sector Governance Issues