Nisbaat Center for Sufi Studies

Symposium 2026

Sufism in the Bengal Delta

Countering & Encountering Sacred Landscapes

Register for the SymposiumSee sessions

A daylong research symposium

A daylong research symposium organized by the Maizbhandari Academy and Nisbaat Centre for Sufi Studies, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Student Association, Harvard University.

Important dates

  1. 01

    Registration & tea

    9:00–9:20 AM

  2. 02

    Opening ceremony

    9:20–9:40 AM

  3. 03

    Session I

    9:40–11:20 AM

  4. 04

    Session II & close

    11:35 AM–1:15 PM

Sessions

  • 9:00–9:20 AM

    Registration, tea & coffee

    Arrival

  • 9:20–9:40 AM

    Opening ceremony

    Inauguration speech

    Hazrat Syed Mohammad Hasan Maizbhandari

  • 9:40–11:20 AM

    Session I: Poetry, sainthood, and the making of Islam in Bengal

    Spiritual Authority, Sainthood and the Making of Bengal. Discussants: Dr. Clinton Bennett; Dr. Aminur Rahman; Dr. Emranul Karim Yaqubi.

    Dr. Sarwar Alam · Chair: Dr. Ayesha Irani

    Read Abstract

  • 11:20–11:35 AM

    Tea & snacks

    Break

  • 11:35 AM–1:15 PM

    Session II: Re-enchanting the hydro-social

    Water’s Multiple Presents: Groundwater Extraction, Sacred Ponds, and Alternative Hydrosocial Futures. Discussants: Dr. Tariq Omar Ali; Faizaa Fariya Hridi.

    Avia Nahreen & Abu Ahasan · Chair: Dr. Adnan Z. Morshed

    Read Abstract

  • 1:15 PM

    Closing remarks and vote of thanks

    End of the day

Scholars & speakers

  • HS

    Chief guest

    Hazrat Syed Mohammad Hasan Maizbhandari

    Nisbaat Center for Sufi Studies · SZHM Trust

    Chairman, Nisbaat Center for Sufi Studies. Managing Trustee, SZHM Trust. Custodian, Maizbhandar Darbar Sharif, Chattogram, Bangladesh.

  • DA

    Chair, Session I

    Dr. Ayesha Irani

    University of Massachusetts Boston

    Associate Professor, Department of Asian Studies.

  • DA

    Chair, Session II

    Dr. Adnan Z. Morshed

    The Catholic University of America

    Professor, School of Architecture and Allied Arts.

  • DS

    Presenter, Session I

    Dr. Sarwar Alam

    George Mason University

    Adjunct Faculty, Department of Religious Studies. Spiritual Authority, Sainthood and the Making of Bengal.

  • AN

    Presenter, Session II

    Avia Nahreen

    Syracuse University

    PhD Candidate. Water’s Multiple Presents, with Abu Ahasan.

  • AA

    Presenter, Session II

    Abu Ahasan

    Radboud University, Netherlands

    PhD Candidate. Joint paper on groundwater, sacred ponds, and hydrosocial futures.

  • DC

    Discussant, Session I

    Dr. Clinton Bennett

    State University of New York, New Paltz

    Discussant for poetry, sainthood, and the making of Islam in Bengal.

  • DT

    Discussant, Session II

    Dr. Tariq Omar Ali

    Georgetown University

    Associate Professor. Discussant for the hydro-social session.

  • DA

    Discussant, Session I

    Dr. Aminur Rahman

    George Mason University

    Adjunct Faculty. Discussant for Session I.

  • DE

    Discussant, Session I

    Dr. Emranul Karim Yaqubi

    Stanford University

    Postdoctoral Scholar, School of Medicine.

  • FF

    Discussant, Session II

    Faizaa Fariya Hridi

    Michigan Technological University

    PhD Candidate. Discussant for Session II.

Registration

Register before the day. Doors open at 9:00 AM with tea and coffee; the opening ceremony starts at 9:20 AM.

Open registration

Programme

Session abstracts are collected in one folder. Use Read Abstract on Session I and Session II, or open the folder here.

Read abstracts

Partners

Organizers, collaborators, and the New England committee supporting this Boston gathering.

  • Support

    Maizbhandari Gausia Huq Committee

    New England Branch, USA · 6 Milred Hamilton Place, Cambridge, MA.

  • With

    Bangladesh Student Association

    Harvard University — collaborating partner for the Boston symposium.