Mohsin, Amena 1958–

PERSONAL: Born January 22, 1958, in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh); daughter of Mohammad (a physician) and Zebunessa (a homemaker) Mohsin; married Anisur Rahman (a surgeon), January 14, 1983; children: Mufrad Nabeel (son). Ethnicity: "Bangali." Politics: "Humanism." Religion: Muslim. Hobbies and other interests: Music.

ADDRESSES: Office—Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

CAREER: Writer and educator. University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh, professor of international relations, 1984–. East-West Center, Honolulu, HI, scholar, 1984–86.

AWARDS, HONORS: CIDA fellow, 1989–90; Commonwealth scholar in England, 1992–95.

WRITINGS:

The Politics of Nationalism: The Case of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh, University Press (Dhaka, Bangladesh), 1997.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh: On the Difficult Road to Peace, Lynne Rienner Publishers (Boulder, CO), 2003.

Also author of essays "The State of 'Minority' Rights in Bangladesh,rdquo; International Centre for Ethnic Studies (Colombo, Sri Lanka), 2001; editor of "Ethnic Minorities of Bangladesh: Some Reflections, the Saontals and the Rakhaines,rdquo; Grameen Trust (Dhaka, Bangladesh), 2002.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Futures of Democracy in Bangladesh; research on civil society and conflict resolution in Bangladesh.

SIDELIGHTS: Amena Mohsin told CA: "Primarily I want to raise awareness about the issues. I believe I am privileged to have acquired an education in a country where people strive to have two meals a day. Education is a luxury, not a right in a country like Bangladesh, so I have a responsibility and obligation to my people at large.

"The level of violence and intolerance prevailing today makes me think about what kind of a world we are living in, what we are leaving for our children, and these thoughts inspire me to write.

"I go out to the field, observe, and talk to people. I think a lot, and what I think and believe to be right and just: I write. Basically, I think and write."