
Tanjil Sowgat
Professor
Address:
Room 1434, Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University
My PhD and MSc from the UK and 20 years of teaching experience help me to engage creatively in my classes. Although I am particularly an expert in planning and development in the Global Southern context, my job and study experience in the UK enabled me to teach advanced planning courses internationally. Between 2003 and 2017, I led courses on GIS, SPSS and Statistics, but currently, I am responsible for leading courses on Urban Planning (international context), Development Planning (Southern context), Urban Affairs, and Urban Design.
With 25 years’ experience in equity planning, urbanisation and climate change, I have coordinated and implemented more than 22 individual studies and research, including 3 feasibility studies for government authorities. Regularly using qualitative and quantitative methods in the studies has enabled me to handle large scale mixed-method studies. While I have developed outstanding personnel management through conducting short-time assignments, through short-term assignments, I have cultivated exceptional personnel management skills. Additionally, my collaborative endeavors span nine different countries, development organisations and government bodies providing me with valuable insights into multi-stakeholder projects.
PhD in Urban Studies, Heriot-Watt University, UK
Msc in Spatial Planning, Oxford Brookes University, Uk
Bachelor in Urban and Rural Planning, Khulna University, Bangladesh
Urban planning, Poverty, Sustainable urbanisation, Residential segregation
Current Research Project/Collaboration
WORK
Professor
Employer: Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna,
9208;
Duration: October
2018 to Current (http://ku.ac.bd/faculty/tanjil-sowgat/)
Post-Doctoral Research Officer
Employer: Swansea University, UK
Project: Poverty alleviation through prevention and future control of the two major socioeconomically-important diseases in Asian aquaculture
Duration: 9 October, 2016 to 10 October 2018
Associate Professor
Employer: Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208;
Duration: 9 August 2013 to 8 September 2016
Assistant Professor
Employer: Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208;
Duration: 9 August 2007 to 9 August 2013
Lecturer
Employer: Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208,
Duration: 15 December 2003 to 9 August 2007
RESEARCH CONSULTANCY
Coordinator and Consultant (Ongoing), Feasibility Study for the 'KCC TK 2504 crore project', Client: Khulna CIty Corporation
Lead Consultant (October 2018-April 2019):, Client: General Economic Division, Planning Commission Bangladesh Key Task: A study of national-local integration of development planning in Bangladesh
In Country CO Invetigator (On Going), Client: SHLC project, Glasgow University, UK and Khulna University Bangladesh, Key Task: Evaluation of current planning policies in Bangladesh and preparation of city profiles (Highlighting on sustainability, healthy and learning cities)
Lead Consultant (August 2016), Client: ActionAid, Bangladesh, Key Tasks: Contribute in tool development, data analysis and report writing towards the preparation of the Mid Term Review report of the ‘She Can’ project.
Consultant (June 2016), Client: Practical Action, Key Tasks: Modality development and assessment report preparation as a part of the project ‘Developing Septic Tank Inspection Modalities for Enforcement of National Standards in Urban Centres’
Lead Consultant (June, 2015), Client: Practical Action, Key tasks: Preparation of Business Plan for FSM as a Part of the project ‘Public Private Partnerships for Sustainable Sludge Management Services in Faridpur’, Bangladesh
Team Leader (May, 2015), Client: ActionAid, Bangladesh, Key tasks: Preparation of baseline report as a part of the project
for ‘She can’
Team Leader (April, 2015), Client: Jagroto Jubo Songha (JJS), Bangladesh, Key tasks: Preparation of
baseline report as a part of the project for ‘Promoting community initiatives
for establishing justice for children’
Team Leader (January, 2015), Client: ActionAid, Bangladesh, Key tasks: Preparation of final evaluation report for the project of ‘Coastal Livelihood Improvement through Maximizing Adaptation towards Environment (Climate)’
Lead Consultant (Nov 2014),Client: Practical Action, Project Title: Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Sludge Management Services in Faridpur, Bangladesh.,Key Tasks: Coordination and Report Writing
Consultant (Aug 2014- Oct 2014), Client: The Nielsen Company (Bangladesh) Limited, Project Title: Phase out Evaluation of Durgapur ADP Durgapur Upazila, Netrakona., Key Tasks: Developing evaluation tools for qualitatively assess the project and using these tools to evaluate impacts, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability and cost benefits of the project.
Research Consultant (June 2014– Nov 2014), Client: Jagroto Jubo Songha (JJS), Bangladesh ,Project: Justice for Children Project, Key Task: Preparation of an annual report for ‘Justice for children project’.
Lead Consultant (Sep 2014- Oct 2014), Client: Jagroto Jubo Songha (JJS), Bangladesh , Project Title: Strengthening Resilience & Reducing Vulnerabilities of Disaster Vulnerable Coastal Communities in Bangladesh’ Project, Key tasks: Development of analytical framework and methodology for the evaluation, and report writing.
Evaluation Consultant (Mar 14- May 2014), Client: ActionAid, Bangladesh, Project Title: Improvement of Primary Health Care, Environmental Health and livelihood opportunities for Women and Marginalized Community in Chanpara Slum. Key task: Developing evaluation tools for qualitatively assess the project and using these tools to evaluate efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, cost benefits of the project.
Research Consultant (January, 2014), Client: Jagroto Jubo Songha (JJS), Bangladesh , Task: Preparation of Strategic Framework for People’s Network on Disaster Risk and Climate Change
Evaluation Consultant (November 2013-December 2013), Client: SoDESH and ActionAid, Bangladesh, Project Title: Improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the Acid Survivors, Key task: Developing evaluation tools for qualitatively asses the project and using these tools to evaluate efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, cost benefits of the project.
Research Consultant (August 2013-November 2013), Client: Jagroto Jubo Songha (JJS), Bangladesh , Research title: Disaster Risk Reduction: The Capacity Building Needs of the Women living in the Southern Bangladesh, Key task: Development of a strategic framework for capacity building to reduce disaster risks of women living in disaster-affected areas of Bangladesh.
Team Leader (January 2013- June 2013), Client: Engineering Consultants Limited and Khulna Development Authority (KDA), Khulna City, Bangladesh, Project title: Concept Plan for Regeneration of KDA New Market Shopping Site , Key task: Preparation of an interim report and urban design guidelines and conceptual master plan for regeneration of KDA New Market Site (The main shopping district of Khulna, Bangladesh)
Research Consultant (Feb 2007-Aug 2007), Client: KU-CDMP Partnership Project, URP Discipline, Khulna University (KU), Khulna & Climate Disaster Management Project (CDMP), UNDP; Project Title: ‘Developing an Effective Community Based All Hazards Early Warning Dissemination UNDP System (EWDS) Considering Local Community’s Disaster Vulnerability’.
Khulna University, Innovation Showcasing Award, 2024 (jointly with Dr Shilpi Roy)
Swansea University Research and Innovation
Award, 2018, for outstanding contribution to Arts, Culture and Society,
(jointly with Dr Sergei Shubin)
Swansea University Research as Art Award,
2018
Supervision
No Data Available
coming soon...
JOURNALS
Shilpi Roy & Tanjil Sowgat (2024) The neighbourhood effect on mental well-being in the Global South, Cities & Health, DOI: 10.1080/23748834.2024.2303565
Sergei Shubin, Will Andrews & Tanjil Sowgat (2023) Rhizomatic poverty in aquaculture communities of rural India & Bangladesh, Social & Cultural Geography, 24:8, 1285-1304, DOI: 10.1080/14649365.2022.2055776Sowgat, T., & Roy, S. (2022). Neighbourhood segregation in Dhaka. Journal of Urban Affairs, 1 21. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2022.2119861
Sowgat, T., & Roy, S. (2022). Throwntogetherness in Dhaka: rethinking urban planning, City, DOI: 10.1080/13604813.2022.2057070
Shubin S., Andrews, W., Sowgat T. (2022) Rhizomatic poverty in aquaculture communities of rural India & Bangladesh. Social and Cultural Geography, DOI:10.1080/14649365.2022.2055776
Roy, S., Sowgat, T., Islam, S. T., & Anjum, N. (2021). Sustainability Challenges for Sprawling Dhaka. Environment and Urbanization ASIA, 12(1): S59-S84, DOI:10.1177/0975425321997995
Shubin S. and Sowgat T (2019) Contested experiences and potential justice at the limit of the law for poor urban children in Bangladesh, Children's Geographies, June 22, DOI: 10.1080/14733285.2019.1630711
Roy S, Sowgat T, Mondal J. (2019) City Profile: Dhaka, Bangladesh. Environment and Urbanization ASIA. Sep; 10(2):216-32. DOI: 10.1177/0975425319859126
Kundu B. K. and Sowgat T. (2016) Employability of the Climate Migrants in Rupsha Slum, Khulna City, Jahangirnagar University Planning Review, vol.-13, Issue 1 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Bangladesh.
Sowgat, T., Y. P. Wang and C. McWilliams (2016). “Pro-poorness of planning policies in Bangladesh: the case of Khulna city.” International Planning Studies ,vol-22, Issue 2, Taylor and Francis group, UK, DOI:10.1080/13563475.2016.1220287
Sowgat T. (2014) Challenges for pro-poor urban planning in Bangladesh: A study of railway land redevelopment plan, Khulna. Jahangirnagar University Planning Review, vol.-12, Issue 1, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Bangladesh.
Sowgat T. and Roy S. (2013) Pro-poorness of the current urban polices in Bangladesh. Plan Plus, Vol.-7, No.-1, Bangladesh, Khulna (https://planplusjournal.com/index.php/planplus/article/view/84)
Sowgat T. (2010) Book Review: Theories of Development: Contentions, Arguments, Alternatives by Richard Peet & Elaine Hartwick: The Guilford Press, Housing Studies, Volume 25, Issue 1, DOI: 10.1080/02673030903363900
Roy S.and Sowgat T. (2006) Planning Response to adapt Climate Change in Khulna City, Bangladesh. Planning Review, Vol-2, No. – 2. Jahangir Nagar University, Bangladesh.
Sowgat T. and Roy S. (2006) Planning challenges in Barcelona, Spain. Plan Plus, Vol.-1, No.-3, Bangladesh, Khulna (https://planplusjournal.com/index.php/planplus/article/view/105)
BOOKS
Roy S., Sowgat T. and Ahmed S. (2022) Urban Issues of Dhaka: An Artistic gaze, SHLC-BD, Bangladesh (http://www.centreforsustainablecities.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Urban-Issues-of-Dhaka_An-Artistic-Gaze.pdf)
CONFERENCE
Sowgat, T (June 2021). Neighborhood Sustainability Auditing: Urban Big data challenges for Bangladesh. 1st International Forum on Big Data for Sustainable Development Golas, Beijing, China.
Sowgat, T., Roy, S., Modal J. ( December 2019) Capturing SOciao-spatial division of Dhaka city using the city level data: scopes and challenges. The 4th Conference of Digital Belt and Road, Shenzhen, China
Sowgat, T. Roy, S, Islam, T.(December 2019) ‘Urban Sprawl in Khulna: Challenges for a city in disaster affected coastal belt in Bangladesh’, Seminar of Eurasian Scientists on Sustainable Development for Coast and Coastal Environment, Sanya, China,
Kabir S. and Sowgat T (2016) Heat Stress Adaptive Urban Design Intervention for Planned Residential Areas of Khulna City: Case Study of Sonadanga, 18th International Conference on Civil Engineering and Urban Transportation Problems, Canada (https://www.waset.org/abstracts?q=Sowgat&search=Search)
Khisa N. and Sowgat T. (2014)Reconciliation Issues Around Development Induced Displacement in Bangladesh: a Study of People Affected Due to Kaptai Dam Construction, FIG Congress 2014: Engaging the Challenges – Enhancing the Relevance, Paper 6761 (http://www.fig.net/resources/proceedings/fig_proceedings/fig2014/papers/TS10D/TS10D_7419_abs.pdf)
Kundu B. K. and Sowgat T. (2013) Influences of Individual Assets on the Employability of the Climate Migrants in Rupsha Slum, Khulna City, International Conference on Climate Change Impact & Adaptation (I3CIA-2013), DUET, Gazipur, Bangladesh
Kundu B. K. and Sowgat T. (2013) Obstacles for the Employability of the Climate Migrants in Rupsha Slum of Khulna City, Annual Conference on Recent Research on Urbanization in Bangladesh, Centre for Urban Studies (CUS), Bangladesh
Sowgat T. Wang Y.P. and McWilliams C. (2010) Ten years of poverty reduction agendas in Bangladesh and the delivery obstacles for local level urban spatial plans. International Conference on Ten years of poverty, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK (http://www.chronicpoverty.org/page/parallelse)
Sowgat T. (2010) Assessing pro-poorness of the income and employment related urban spatial strategies in Khulna, Bangladesh. Post-Graduate Research Conference on “Productivity, Efficiency and Optimization-Heriot-Watt University working towards a brighter future” Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
Sowgat T. and Roy S. (2007) Pro-poor regeneration of railway markets, Khulna, Bangladesh. International Conference on Architecture for Economically Disadvantaged, BUET, Bangladesh
Roy S., Sowgat T. and Rahman K.R. (2007) In search of anhttp://ku.ac.bd/wp-admin/post.php?post=6494&action=edit urban regeneration approach that benefits the poor International Conference on Architecture for Economically Disadvantaged, BUET, Bangladesh
POPULAR ARTICLES
Sowgat, T (2019) 'UMUGANDA IN RWANDA: A powerful idea that can inspire community driven development in Bangladesh', The Daily Star, March 6 [https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/global-affairs/news/powerful-idea-can-inspire-community-driven-development-bangladesh-1710970]
Shubin, S and Sowgat, T (2018) 'Revisting poverty reduction approach in Southern Bangladesh', The Daily Star, May 21[https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/society/revisiting-poverty-reduction-approach-southern-bangladesh-1616221]
Sowgat, T (2019), 'Bangladesh needs four pronged approach to ensure fires safety' The New Age, April 05 [http://www.newagebd.net/print/article/69243]
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH REPORTS
Roy, S., Sowgat, T.,(2020).Dhaka: DIverse, dense and damaged neighbourhoods and the impacts of unplanned urbanisation. GCRF Centre for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighborhood (SHLC). UK and Bangladesh (http://www.centreforsustainablecities.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/SHLC_Research_Summary_08_DHAKA.pdf)
Sowgat, T, Roy.S. (2020). Khulna: the diversity and disparity of neighbourhoods from organic growth. GCRF Centre for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighborhood (SHLC). UK and Bangladesh (http://www.centreforsustainablecities.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/SHLC_Research_Summary_09_KHULNA.pdf)
Roy, S., Sowgat, T., Ahmed, M. U., Islam, S. T., Anjum, N., Mondal, J., & Rahman, M. M. (2018). Bangladesh: National urban policies and city profiles for Dhaka and Khulna. GCRF Centre for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighborhood (SHLC). UK and Bangladesh (http://www.centreforsustainablecities.ac.uk/research/bangladesh-national-urban-policies-city-profiles-dhaka-khulna/)
BLOGS
Sowgat, T. and Roy, S. (2021). The dual Crises: Covid 19 and climate change in Khulna City, URL:http://www.centreforsustainablecities.ac.uk/news/the-dual-crises-covid-19-and-climate-change-in-khulna-city/
Sowgat,T (2021). Creattive Art Workshop: Appreciating 'Ugly-Beauty' to support critical thinking and creativity in future urban research, URL:http://www.centreforsustainablecities.ac.uk/news/creative-art-workshop-appreciating-ugly-beauty-to-support-critical-thinking-and-creativity-in-future-urban-research/
Sowgat, T. and Roy, S. (2021). Meeting the mayors of Dhaka and khulna: new hopes for pragmatic-research. URL:http://www.centreforsustainablecities.ac.uk/news/meeting-the-mayors-of-dhaka-and-khulna-new-hopes-for-pragmatic-research/
Sowgat,T (2020). A new saint or a Frankenstein for Dhaka, http://www.centreforsustainablecities.ac.uk/news/a-new-saint-frankenstein-for-dhaka/
Islam, T, Sowgat, T, Shakil, I. (2019). Picturing Dhaka: Bustling Streets, famous street foods and rubbish playgrounds. http://www.centreforsustainablecities.ac.uk/news/picturing-dhaka-bustling-streets-street-food-rubbish-playgrounds/