Master of Urban & Regional Planning (Ongoing),
Bachelor of Urban & Regional Planning (BURP),
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET), Kazla, Rajshahi - 6204, Bangladesh.
Associate Member, Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP). Membership ID: 2363
Mobile: +880 1918641442
Greetings,
I’m Md. Arshadul Islam, a graduate of Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET), where I completed my Bachelor of Urban & Regional Planning with honors, securing the top position in my cohort with a CGPA of 3.88/4.00 (Final semester GPA: 4.0/4.0). I'm currently pursuing a Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) degree in the same department.
My undergraduate thesis, supervised by Associate Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Wakil, focused on nature-resident connectedness and its influence on residents' attitudes toward tourism in Cox’s Bazar. This project provided me with a valuable opportunity to explore the delicate balance between ecological preservation and tourism development.
Throughout my undergraduate years, I collaborated on various research projects, including applying remote sensing techniques to analyze land-use/land-cover changes and soil erosion, evaluating women's contributions to the informal economy, and assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on agriculture and food security in Bangladesh. Additionally, my sessional work involved projects such as a participatory approach to identify challenges and solutions faced by people with disabilities for the inclusive development of Rajshahi City, research on topics such as school transportation patterns in Rajshahi City, the economic dynamics of the northeastern tea-producing region of Bangladesh, and factors influencing rural livelihood diversification. These experiences deepened my understanding of how research can address real-world societal and environmental challenges.
Moreover, I gained hands-on experience beyond research. In 2023, I facilitated the development of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society’s (BDRCS) Urban Strategy Paper by conducting Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). This work sharpened my skills in participatory planning and community engagement, enabling me to collaborate with local stakeholders to develop practical, community-focused solutions.
I have also been fortunate to receive recognition for my efforts. Notably, our team became champion in Poster Presentation at the Planning Carnival 2022, organized by the Dept. of Urban & Regional Planning at RUET, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP). This achievement was particularly meaningful to me. The title of our poster was 'Proposal of a Rehabilitation Center for People with Disabilities.'
My research interests encompass transportation planning, GIS and remote sensing, inclusive and participatory planning, urban and regional planning, and tourism planning and development. I am committed to continuous learning, refining my skills, and staying updated with emerging tools and techniques to excel as a researcher and practitioner.
Looking ahead, I am eager to pursue an MS or PhD to deepen my knowledge of innovative approaches to solve real world problems. I believe there is much more to uncover, and I’m excited to contribute to the field in meaningful and impactful ways.