His interests range across the fields of political economy, gender norms, and globalization, with a focus on societies in transition and conflict. As an investigative journalist, he has written regularly for the Wall Street Journal and the Guardian, as well as regional newspapers, for more than a decade. He has won several international awards for his coverage of politics, human rights, and sustainable development in Bangladesh. Before joining the Journal, Mahmood worked at the Dhaka Tribune, United News of Bangladesh, and the Daily Star in Bangladesh.