The International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) has announced the winners of the 2026 ICCCAD Research Grant winners under the CAP-RES project.

The grant under CAP-RES (Capacity Strengthening of Multi-actors to Limit Climate Change Impacts and Enhance Resilience) project aims to support research on climate change, adaptation, resilience, and locally led responses in Bangladesh. The grants were awarded to five IUB students and 10 researchers from other institutions and organizations.

The graduate-level IUB students who received the grant are Esha Sanzida (Public Health), Umme Habiba (Development Studies), and As-Saba Hossain (Environmental Science and Management). From the undergraduate level, Sinthia Kamal (Global Studies and Governance) and Rabila Tarannum Chowdhury (Environmental Science and Management) received the grant.

They will conduct research on maternal healthcare in climate-vulnerable char communities; climate-related environmental stressors and maternal mental health; climate-induced displacement and community resilience; climate-smart agriculture in coastal Bangladesh; and preparedness for heat-related illness in urban Dhaka.

The recipients from external organizations include Tasnuba Muzahid Farah of ActionAid Bangladesh; Tamhida Ahmed of Intelligence Quality; Zannatul Kubra Shila of Positive Plus Foundation; Md Jamil Hossain of Jahangirnagar University; Musfique Rahman of the University of Dhaka; Kazi Mahir Tajwar of Jahangirnagar University; Sadia Sabrin Tarannum of Leading University; Md Washikur Rahman of Bangladesh Maritime University; Sumaiya Akter of Jahangirnagar University; and Pradipto Vaskar Rakshit, an independent consultant.

Their research will examine blue carbon change in the Sundarbans, women’s work in Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector, drought adaptation in the Barind Tract, climate-induced health risks in coastal communities, anticipatory action for climate-induced storms, heat-related non-economic loss and damage, climate-resilient housing, seagrass ecosystems, salt-induced deterioration of archaeological structures, and informal finance in coastal fisheries.

The grantees were selected by the Research Grant Evaluation Committee, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Md. Hafizur Rahman, Principal Investigator of CAP-RES, Focal Point of ICCCAD-IUB and Head of IUB's Department of Environmental Science and Management.

The committee members include Prof. Dr. Rumana Rana of Khulna University; Dr. K. Ayaz Rabbani, Dean of IUB’s School of Environment and Life Sciences; Mr. Kazi Amdadul Hoque, Senior Director, Strategic Planning and Head of Climate Action, Friendship; and Dr. Haseeb Irfanullah, Independent Consultant in Environment, Climate Change, and Research Systems.

The grant program also includes capacity-building and research development sessions covering research design, methodology, implementation, and research quality. The CAP-RES project is supported by the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka and implemented by ICCCAD, IUB.

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