The Maldives National University (MNU) hosted a Book Donation Ceremony on Tuesday to receive a generous donation of a self-authored scholarly publication by His Excellency Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam, High Commissioner of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the Republic of Maldives.
The donated publication, Power of Bonding and Non-Western Soft Power Strategy in Iran: Comparing China and India’s Engagement, is a significant academic contribution that explores international relations, diplomacy, soft power, peace and conflict studies, and South Asian affairs. The book offers valuable insights into contemporary geopolitical dynamics and provides an important resource for students, researchers, and policymakers interested in regional and global affairs.
H.E. Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam has distinguished himself through an exceptional career that seamlessly integrates diplomacy, academia, research, and public service. While serving as the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the Maldives, he has continued to strengthen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and the Maldives. Beyond his diplomatic responsibilities, he is internationally recognized as a political scientist, academic, researcher, and prolific author whose scholarly work has made significant contributions to the fields of international relations, diplomacy, soft power, peace and conflict studies, and South Asian affairs.
The ceremony marked the formal addition of this valuable publication to the MNU Library collection, further enriching the University’s academic resources while promoting knowledge sharing, cultural exchange, and international scholarly collaboration. The University expressed its appreciation for this generous contribution, noting that the publication will serve as an important reference for students, academics, and researchers, particularly those engaged in international relations, political science, diplomacy, governance, peace studies, and public policy. The addition of this work is expected to encourage critical thinking, inspire meaningful research, and broaden understanding of regional and global issues.
Through initiatives such as this, The Maldives National University continues to strengthen its commitment to expanding access to high-quality scholarly resources, fostering academic excellence, and building enduring partnerships that promote learning, research, and cross-cultural understanding.
This initiative contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, by enhancing access to quality academic resources, SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, by promoting scholarship on diplomacy and peace, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by strengthening international collaboration and knowledge exchange between institutions and nations.
