Department of Meteorology Hosts Inception of USD 2.2 Million Wellcome Trust, UK Funded International Research Project on Urban Heat
The Department of Meteorology, University of Dhaka, officially launched the international research project, Exposing Hidden Heat: Mapping Heat Driven Health Disparities and Advancing Policy Implications for Climate Resilient Urban Development in Dhaka, Bangladesh, through an inception program held on 15 June 2026 at the Vice Chancellor's Office Meeting Room of the University of Dhaka.
Funded by the Wellcome Trust, UK, with a grant of USD 2.2 million, the project is led by Professor Mostafijur Rahman of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, USA. Dr. Fatima Akter, Associate Professor of the Department of Meteorology, University of Dhaka, serves as the Co Principal Investigator (Co PI) and leads the University of Dhaka's contributions to the multidisciplinary collaboration. The project brings together researchers from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, the University of Dhaka, and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Professor A. B. M. Obaidul Islam, Honorable Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, as the Chief Guest. The event was chaired by Dr. Rabiul Awal, Chairman of the Department of Meteorology, University of Dhaka. The program featured presentations by the Principal Investigator and the Co Principal Investigators, who outlined the project's objectives, methodological framework, implementation strategy, and expected outcomes. The research aims to investigate the impacts of urban heat exposure on vulnerable populations, identify heat driven health disparities across Dhaka, and generate scientific evidence to inform policies that promote climate resilient and equitable urban development.
Distinguished guests, including Professor Md. Humayun Kabir, Dean of the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Professor M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Treasurer of the University of Dhaka; Professor Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane, Pro Vice Chancellor (Administration); and Professor Abdus Salam, Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic), delivered remarks highlighting the importance of scientific research and international collaboration in strengthening climate resilience, protecting public health, and advancing sustainable urban development.
As a key partner in the project, the Department of Meteorology, University of Dhaka, will lead the meteorological and climate analysis component. The department will conduct advanced climate data analysis, urban heat mapping, and environmental monitoring to characterize the spatial and temporal variability of extreme heat across Dhaka. These scientific assessments will contribute to a better understanding of urban heat risks and provide evidence to support climate informed planning and policy development.
The inception program concluded with a vote of thanks and a shared commitment from all collaborating institutions to advancing high impact research that addresses the challenges of climate change, urban heat, and public health while contributing to sustainable and climate resilient urban development in Bangladesh and beyond.