Dhaka: The Dhaka University (DU) is set to lead two international research projects involving Tk 100 crore.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the projects will be financed by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The Meteorology department and Fisheries department of the university have been selected for these international research initiatives under the JST-run Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) program for the fiscal year 2025, a university press release stated.
The first project, “Building a Flood-Resilient Society by Improving Flood Forecasting in the Context of Climate Change,” will be under the Department of Disaster Science and Climate Resilience. Chairperson of the department of Meteorology Dr. Fatima Akter will lead the Bangladesh part as the Principal Investigator (PI), while Professor Dr. Toru Terao from Kagawa University will serve as the PI for the Japan part. This five-year project, with a funding of 500 million Japanese Yen, aims to contribute to the development of disaster prevention strategies in the context of climate change.
The second project, “Water Quality Monitoring and Purification Technology in Dhaka Metropolitan Area,” will be managed by the Department of Environmental Science. It also has a five-year duration and a funding of 500 million Japanese Yen. Prof. Dr. Anwar Hossain of the Department of Fisheries will be the PI for the Bangladesh component, with Prof. Dr. Koji Ohtanabe of Ehime University as the PI for the Japan component. These projects are scheduled to run from April 2026 to March 2031, following a probationary period from May 2025 to March 2026, as mentioned in the press release.
DU VC Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan emphasized the longstanding friendship between Japan and Bangladesh, expressing that these projects will positively impact the socio-economic development of the country and benefit its people.