The Department of Criminology of the University of Dhaka (DU) organised the 3rd International Conference on Criminology and Forensic Science in Global South August 8 and 9, 2021. This year, they commemorated three celebrations, including the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, centenary celebration of the University of Dhaka, and Golden Jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh, during the conference. The conference was arranged in collaboration with Ryukoku University, Japan and the National Forensic Sciences University, India.

The two-day conference commenced with the intention of communicating the significance of criminal activities rampant around South Asia. The significance of the assessment of justice throughout history surrounding bouts of colonialism, the case of sexual abuse on children in India, the increase in criminal activities over the pandemic, and the rise in lethal ways of committing crimes were topics of the papers presented. The conference aimed to deliberate effective criminal justice and diminish criminal activities thus certifying significance of forensic science particularly in the Southern Asian context.

The keynote speakers of the conference were Prof. Dr. Kerry Carrington (School of Justice, Queensland University of Technology), Professor Dr. Zia Rahman (Founding Chairman, Department of Criminology, University of Dhaka), Dr. J.M. Vyas (Vice Chancellor, National Forensic Sciences University, India) and Professor Shinichi-ISHIZUKA (Director, Criminal Research Centre, Ryakoku University). Prominent personalities Dr. Mark Brown (Deputy Head and Senior Lecturer, School of Law, University of Sheffield), Dr. Kerry Clamp (Associate Professor of Criminology, School of Sociology and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences), Prof. Dr. Emilio Viano (President of International Society for Criminology and Professor Law, American University), Dr. Michael McGuire (Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Surrey), Dr. Akiko Kogawara (Professor, Criminology Research Centre, Ryakoku University), Quazi Mahfuzul Haq Supan (Associate Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka) presented their papers too.

Khandaker Farzana Rahman, Chairman of the Department of Criminology, University of Dhaka and Convenor of the conference supervised the inaugural ceremony. Besides, Dr. A.S.M. Maksud Kamal, Professor and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Education, University of Dhaka, was the chief guest, Dr. Sadeka Halim, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dhaka, was present as guest of honour, and a UN Office of Drugs and Crimes Representative was present as special guest. In the closing session, Dr. Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, Treasurer, University of Dhaka, and Professor Dr. S.O. Junare, Dean, School of Doctoral and Research and School of Management Studies, National Forensic Sciences University, India, were guests of honour. Lastly Md Monirul Islam, Additional Inspector General and Head of Special Branch, Bangladesh Police, was in attendance as special guest.