Dr. Sajeda Begum Professor, Department of Zoology
PROFILE
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Sajeda Begum is the professor of Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University. She has been working on different aspects of wildlife ecology, management and conservation biology since 1990. Her academic training began in Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh where she obtained B.Sc (Honours) in Zoology in 1989, M.Sc in Wildlife Ecology, Management and Conservation Biology in 1990. She completed MPhil on Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Biology from the University of Cambridge UK under the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Fellowship in 1999. Her PhD research is focused on Avian Brood Parasitism which she completed at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway in 2011. Her research centered on the co-evolutionary dynamics of host-parasite interactions among species of brood parasitic cuckoos and their varied host species of Bangladesh. Apart from this pioneer work on the biology and natural history of the Asian cuckoos she has been working as a collaborator on the project supported by National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, USA that looks at how pathogens are interacting between humans and animals in Bangladesh. She has published more than 50 research articles in national, international journals and books and has participated in several international symposiums and workshops held in home and abroad. She is the member of different national/international organizations including Brood Parasitism Group (NTNU) Norway, Otter Specialist Group (OSG). She is the “Technical Reviewer” of Red List Assessing Group-Birds, the Red List Updating-Bangladesh by IUCN. She supervised more than 25 research theses in M.Sc/M.Phil/Ph.D level on different aspects of wildlife of Bangladesh. She is enthusiastic about providing environmental education to raise environmental awareness and encourage a love of science among the school children in and around the protected areas of Bangladesh. She is the co-founder of the Wildlife Rescue Centre (WRC) in Jahangirnagar University, the only one of its kind in Bangladesh.
RESEARCH INTEREST
Wildlife ecology, management and conservation; Behavioural ecology, Brood parasitism, Non-formal environmental education
All Publications
Akhtar, S., Feeroz, M.M., Begum, S. Jones-Engel, L., Performing monkeys in Bangladesh: monkey acquisition, rearing practices and human-monkey interactions., Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES), 25, 6, pp.146-154., 2024.Hasan, M.K., Aziz, M.A., Alam, S.M.R., Kawamoto, Y., Jones- Engel, L, Kyes, R.C., Akhtar, S., Begum, S. and Feeroz, M. M., Distribution of Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta) in Bangladesh: Inter-population Variation in Group Size and Composition., Primate Conservation, 26, pp.1-18, 2011.
Islam, M.I., Muzaffar, S.B., Feeroz, M.M., Kabir, M.M., Begum, S., Chowdhury, G.W., Aziz, M.A., Chakma, S. and Jahan, I., Hoolock gibbon conservation in Bangladesh., Gibbon Journal, 6, pp.13-17, 2011.
Begum, S., A. Moksnes, E. Røskaft, and B. G. Stokke., Interactions between Asian cuckoo (Eudynamys scolopacea) and its hosts., Behaviour, 148, pp.325-340, 2011.
Begum, S., A. Moksnes, E. Røskaft, and B. G. Stokke., Factors influencing host nest use by the brood parasitic Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea)., Journal of Ornithology, 152, pp.793-800, 2011. doi: DOI: 10.1007/s10336-011-0652-y.
Hasan, M.K., Begum, S., Datta, A.K., Nahid, M.I., Roy, A., Akhtar, S. Khan, M.M. H., Mammalian diversity and conservation in the mixed-evergreen forest of Baraiyadhala National Park, Chattogram, Bangladesh., Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, 52, 3, pp.269-280,
Hasan, M. K., Saha, A., Datta, A. K., Akhtar, S., & Begum, S., First record of Peyton’s Whiskered Bat, Myotis peytoni Wroughton & Ryley, 1913 (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), from Bangladesh: a range extension in South Asia., Check List,, 22, 3, pp.589-595, 2026.
Akhtar, S., Feeroz, M.M., Begum, S. Jaman, M.F. and Jones-Engel, L., Seminomadic monkey performers in Bangladesh: movement, health care andsocio-economic status., Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci., 35, 1, pp.69-82, 2026. doi: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/dujbs.v35i1.88406.
Hasan, M.K., Datta, A.K., Saha, A., Begum, S., New distribution record of Hipposideros grandis G.M. Allen, 1936, Grand Leaf-nosed Bat (Chiroptera, Hipposideridae), from Bangladesh based on morphometric and molecular evidence., Check List, 21, 1, pp.39–44, 2025. doi: https://doi.org/10.15560/21.1.39.
Virginia E. A., Nahid, M.I., Stokke, B.G., Røskaft, E., Begum, S. Langmore, N.E. and Liang, W., Have Asian koels evolved egg mimicry with any of their hosts? Journal of Avian Biology: e03481. doi: 10.1002/jav.03481, Journal of Avian Biology,
Oberste, M.S., Feeroz, M.M., Maher, K., Nix, W.A., Engel, G.A., Hasan, K.M., Begum, S., Oh, G., Pallansch, M.A. & Jones-Engel, L., Naturally acquired picornavirus infections in nonhuman primates at the Dhaka Zoo., J. Virol., 2012. doi: DOI:10.1128/JVI.00838-12.
Begum, S., A. Moksnes, E. Røskaft, and B. G. Stokke., Responses of potential hosts of Asian cuckoos to experimental parasitism, 154, 2, Ibis., 2012. doi: DOI:10.1111/j.1474-919X.2012.01213.x
El-Shesheny, R., Barman, S., Feeroz, M. M., Hasan, M. K., Jones-Engel, L., Franks, J., Turner, J., Seiler, P. Walker, D., Friedman, K., Kercher, L., Begum, S., Akhtar, S., Datta, A.K., Krauss, S., Kayali, G., McKenzie, P., Webby, R.J. and Webster, R. G., Genesis of Influenza A (H5N8) Viruses., 23, 8, Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2017. doi: http://doi.org/10.3201/eid2308.170143.
Nahid, M.I., Fossoy, F., Stokke, B.G., Abernathy, V., Begum, S., Langmore, N.E., Roskaft, E. and Ranke, P.S., No evidence of host-specific egg mimicry in Asian koels., PLoS ONE, 16, 7, 2021. doi: e0253985. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253985.
Nahid, M.I., Fossøy, F., Stokke, B.G., Begum, S., Røskaft, E., Ranke, P.S., How does human disturbance affect brood parasitism and nest predation in hosts inhabiting a highly fragmented landscape?, Global Ecology and Conservation, 2020. doi: DOI:10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01295
Hasan, M.K., Saha, A., Datta, A.K., Begum, S. Nahid, M.I., Roy, A. and Debbarma, P., Heterogeneous habitat supports cryptic diversity of the terrestrialmammalian community in a protected forest of Bangladesh., Community ecology, 2024. doi: DOI: 10.1007/s42974-024-00219-0
Hasan, M.K., Datta, A.K., Saha, A., Begum, S., New distribution record of Hipposideros grandis G.M. Allen, 1936, Grand Leaf-nosed Bat (Chiroptera, Hipposideridae), from Bangladesh based on morphometric and molecular evidence., Check List, 21, 1, pp.39-44, 2025. doi: https://doi.org/10.15560/21.1.39
JOURNAL PAPER
Das, D.K., Feeroz, M.M. and Begum, S., Diversity and population density of birds at Jahangirnagar University campus, Bangladesh., Bangladesh journal of Zoology, 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.3329/bjz.v48i2.52369.Oberste, M.S., Feeroz, M.M., Maher, K., Nix, W.A., Engel, G.A., Hasan, K.M., Begum, S., Oh, G., Chowdhury, A.H., Pallansch, M.A. & Jones-Engel, L., Characterizing the picornavirus landscape among synanthropic nonhuman primates in Bangladesh, 2007-2008., J. Virol., 2012. doi: DOI:10.1128/JVI.00837-12.
Akhtar, S., Kabir, M.M., Begum, S. and Hasan, M.K., Activity pattern of White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) at Jahangirnagar University Campus, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Bangladesh J. Zool., 41, 2, 2013. doi: https://doi.org/10.3329/BJZ.V41I2.23321
Virginia E. A., Nahid, M.I., Stokke, B.G., Røskaft, E., Begum, S. Langmore, N.E. and Liang, W., Have Asian koels evolved egg mimicry with any of their hosts? Journal of Avian Biology: e03481. doi: 10.1002/jav.03481, Journal of Avian Biology, 2025. doi: doi: 10.1002/jav.03481
Nahid, M.I., Fossoy, F., Begum, S., Roskaft, E. and Stokke, B., First record of Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) parasitism by Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) in Bangladesh., Avian Res., 7, 14, 2016. doi: doi:10.1186/s40657-016-0049-y
Nahid, M.I., Begum, S. and Feeroz, M.M., Brood parasitic cuckoos and their hosts in Jahangirnagar University Campus., Indian BIRDS, 12, 2, pp.43-48, 2016.
Nahid, M.I., Begum, S., Feeroz, M.M. and Hasan, M.K., First breeding record of White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata at Jahangirnagar University Campus, Bangladesh., The Journal of Zoology Studies, 4, 4, pp.15-17, 2017.
Nahid, M.I., Begum, S., Feeroz, M.M. and Hasan, M.K., Breeding notes on the Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus in Jahangirnagar University Campus, Bangladesh., Bird-o-soar#3. In: Zoo’s Print, 32, 7, pp.27:29, 2017.
Nahid, M.I., Begum, S., Feeroz, M.M. and Hasan, M.K., Notes on Breeding behavior of Yellow-footed Green-pigeon (Treron phoenicoptera) (Columbidae) in a semi-urban area of Bangladesh., Bird-o-soar#15. In: Zoo’s Print, 33, 4, pp.15:18, 2018.
Jahan, I, Begum,S., Feeroz, M.M., Das, D.K. and Datta, A.K., Nesting pattern of birds in Jahangirnagar University Campus, Bangladesh., Journal of Threatened Taxa., 10, 5, pp.11618-11635, 2018.
Nahid, M.I., Fossoy, F., Stokke, B.G., Begum, S., Roskaft, E., Confirmation of House crows Corvus splendens laying immaculate blue eggs., Bird Study., 66, 1, pp.141-144, 2019. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2018.1563047
Shoma, S.F. and Begum, S., Comparative nesting patterns and success of Mynas and Starlings (Aves: Sturnidae) inhabiting Jahangirnagar University campus, Bangladesh., Bangladesh J. Zool., 48, 2, pp.321-334, 2020.
Datta, A. K., & Begum, S, Breeding ecology of Common Tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius in a human-dominated habitat of Bangladesh, with notes on parasitism by Plaintive Cuckoo, Cacomentis merulinus., Ornithology Research, 29, 4, pp.173-178, 2021.
BOOK
Khan, M.M.H., Begum, S., Feeroz, M.M., Kabir, M.M., Hasan, M.K., Khan, B., Rahman, T., Prodhan, M.A.H., Khan, M.N.S., Khaledin, S. and Basak, R., Wildlife of Kaptai National Park of Bangladesh., Bangladesh Forest Department, Dhaka, Bangladesh. pp 108., 2016.Feeroz, M.M., Hasan, M.K., Begum, S., Datta, A.K., Akhtar, S., Rahman, T., Saha, A., Nahid, M.I., Moktadir, N.A., Biodiversity of Doluchari Village Common Forest in Rangamati., Arannayk Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 148 pp., 2016.
Hasan, M.K., Begum, S., Nahid, M.I., Datta, A.K. and Saha, A., A. Wildlife diversity of Baraiyadhala National Park of Bangladesh., Forest Department, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 160 pp., 2025.
Sajeda Begum, Birds of Jahangirnagar University Campus, pp.96, 2016.
Teaching
| Course Code | Course Title | Semester/Year |
|---|---|---|
| Zool 305; Zool 311; Zool 615 | Ecology, Ecology Practical, Wildlife Conservation | Year |
Academic Info
Period: Teaching: 30 years (since1996)
My academic training began in Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh where I obtained B.Sc (Honours) in Zoology in 1989, M.Sc in Wildlife Ecology, Management and Conservation Biology in 1990. I have completed MPhil on Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Biology from the University of Cambridge UK under the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Fellowship in 1999. My PhD research is focused on Avian Brood Parasitism which I have completed at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway in 2011.
Professional wildlife biologist engaged in teaching (Professor of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University) and research on various aspects of wildlife ecology, management and conservation biology in Bangladesh.
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS (Author / Co-author): 124; Books: 7; Book Chapters: 6; Research Articles: 51 (International Journals: 32, National Journals: 20); Abstract: 7; Species Entry in IUCN Red List: 31; Species Entry Encyclopedia flora and fauna of Bangladesh: 21
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PWYcQ6EAAAAJ&hl=en
Experience
Position: Professor
Period: Wildlife Research: 35 years (since 1990) Teaching: 30 years (since1996) to date
Wildlife Research: 35 years (since 1990); Teaching: 30 years (since1996)
Professional wildlife biologist engaged in teaching (Professor of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University) and research on various aspects of wildlife ecology, management and conservation biology in Bangladesh. Expert on wildlife ecology, biodiversity survey and monitoring throughout Bangladesh. Also skilled and experienced in conducting environmental education, training programme to raise environmental awareness, as well as producing wildlife related publications and taking videos and photos of wildlife.
Earned MPhil degree in Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Biology from the University of Cambridge, UK in 2000. Earned PhD degree in Ornithology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway, in 2011 for ‘Brood Parasitism in Asian Cuckoos: Different Aspects of Interactions between Cuckoos and their Hosts in Bangladesh’. P.ublished numerous scientific articles, books and book chapters on different aspects of wildlife of Bangladesh both in home and abroad.
Technical Reviewer, Red List of Bangladesh Volume 3: Birds. 2015. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh, pp. xvi+676.
Organizer, "Fun and Learn" nonformal environmental education among local school children living in and around Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary. 2013.
Guest Lecturer and Lead Trainer for National University, Independent University and Forest Department, Bangladesh.
Convenor of the Bird Fair 2015 in Jahangirnagr University and actively involved in different events of Bird Fair in Jahangirnagar University to raise awareness about biodiversity conservation since 2005.
Supervised 2 PhD and 60 MSc research students as well as played leading/key roles in many research projects.
Activity
Position: Professor
Conducted many training and research projects.
Supervised many research projects both in MSc and PhD.
Member of several national and international professional committees like Ecological society (ECOS), Nepal, International Primatological Society (IPS), Otter Specialist Group (OSG) of IUCN, Species Survival Commission (SSC), Brood Parasitism Group (NTNU), Norway, Bangladesh National Vulture Recovery Committee (BNVRC) and Zoological Society of Bangladesh. Member, Board of Directors, Arannayk Foundation.
Co-Founder & Lead Narrator, Scriptwriter, Bengal's Wild Tales, a premier digital platform of science-based documetaries. A total of of 150 Wildlife Documentaries on different aspects of wildlife ecology, management and conservation of Bangladesh have been made. This initiative has succefully bridged the gap between academic research and public engagement.
Awarded 'Fellowship Award 2021' in 22nd International Biennial Conference and AGM 2021 by Zoological Society of Bangladesh.
Awarded 'National Award for Wildlife Conservation 2026' for contribution in Wildlife Research and Education.
Contact
Dr. Sajeda Begum
Professor
Department of Zoology
Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh.
Cell Phone: 01712045640
Email: bsajeda@juniv.edu
, bsajeda@yahoo.com
