The School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (SLASS) at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) launched the inaugural session of its SLASS Seminar Series on 9 July, featuring discussions on borderland studies, migration, informal economies and regional security.

Titled “Mobility and Flows on Bangladesh Borderland”, the seminar was held at the university’s BC7010 venue and brought together faculty members, researchers and students for an academic exchange on issues related to Bangladesh’s border regions.

A keynote presentation was delivered by Professor Dr Kazi Mahmudur Rahman, head of the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities (DSSH), titled “Trust, Networks, and Policy Gaps: Understanding the Resilience of Informal Remittance Channels (Hundi) in Bangladesh’s Remittance Landscape”.

The presentation examined the persistence of informal remittance channels, commonly known as hundi, and explored the roles of trust, social networks and policy gaps in shaping Bangladesh’s remittance landscape.

Faculty members from the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities participated in the seminar and contributed to discussions throughout the session.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Qudrate Khoda, head of the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, who thanked the speakers, participants and organisers for the successful launch of the seminar series.