Winner of the KESRF 2024

Shekh Sadia Akter is a final-year BSS student in Anthropology at the University of Rajshahi. Her final-year research monograph addresses the issue of “Development” from an anthropological perspective. Her proposed research examines how the establishment of the mega-project Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) in Bangladesh affects local people’s livelihoods and investigates the disparity in their livelihood development. Adopting an anthropological perspective, her research critically explores how mega-development projects like the RNPP can create livelihood disparities, marginalization, and imbalanced socio-economic outcomes, highlighting the challenges of Development-Induced Displacement and Resettlement (DIDR).

Sadia’s work is influenced by the theoretical perspectives of scholars such as James Ferguson, Katy Gardner, Akhil Gupta, Pierre Bourdieu, and Robert Chambers, which shape her analytical approach and commitment to meaningful development studies.

At Kendrobimukhi, we prioritize engaging and encouraging young Bangladeshi social science students to address diverse social discourses through impactful research. We are thrilled to welcome such an enthusiastic participant to our community.

She aspires to further her career as a cultural anthropologist, focusing on culture-specific development to amplify marginalized voices and promote equitable community development.