Brought out by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, the present Volume is compiled in honour of Professor Sirajul Islam (b. 1939) to mark the celebration of his 85th birthday. He is the former Professor of History; University of Dhaka and the author of several outstanding books being published at home and abroad. He has become a household name among the academia and learned readerships by virtue of 14-volume magnum opus Banglapedia [National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh]. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to knowledge, he is honoured as a Fellow by the British Royal Asiatic Society, the British Academy and the Royal Historical Society. After going into voluntary retirement from Dhaka University in 2000, he devoted himself to the task of turning the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh in to a vibrant and premier non-government learned body of the country. He is now widely recognized as the builder of the modern Asiatic Society. Needless to say, such a person deserves acclaim and appreciation from all of us, which is why the Society brings out this Volume.