Imamur Hossain is the Coordinator of International Centre for Development and Environmental Studies (ICDES) at Sonargaon University (SU), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Overview
The International Centre for Development and Environmental Studies (ICDES) is an interdisciplinary research institution committed to advancing sustainability, environmental planning, cultural heritage, and urban resilience. It boasts a rich legacy from its early years in the United Kingdom and a dynamic, growing presence in Bangladesh.
Founded: 1992 in the United Kingdom
Founder: Dr. Tasleem Shakur (formerly at Edge Hill University, UK)
Integrated into Sonargaon University (SU): June 29, 2024
ICDES serves as a vital platform for bridging academic research, policy dialogue, and practical interventions across borders. It connects governmental and non-governmental agencies, aid organizations, and academic communities to address the developmental challenges of the Global South.
Organisational Framework
Leadership & Administration
Advisory Oversight: Dr. Tasleem Shakur (Founder, ICDES)
Director: Dr. M. Mahfuzul Haque
Centre Coordinator: Imamur Hossain (Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, SU)
ICDES operates under a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sonargaon University, which enables:
● Joint research projects in sustainable development, urban planning, and cultural studies.
● Interdisciplinary academic programs (including international short courses and plans for a one-year diploma in Sustainable Development & Environment).
● Policy engagement and publications through international journals such as Global Built Environment Review (GBER) and South Asian Cultural Studies (SACS).
● Workshops and training initiatives that foster collaboration among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
While ICDES continues its research and academic work under Sonargaon University, its historical UK operations ceased after 2010.
ICDES in the United Kingdom: Historical Legacy and Core Initiatives
Origins and Focus (UK)
Established in 1992, ICDES emerged as a pioneering centre dedicated to exploring third-world development, environmental planning, and sustainable urbanism. Under Dr. Tasleem Shakur’s leadership, the UK branch:
● Contributed significantly to early debates on integrating built environments with local contexts.
● Established influential publication platforms through GBER and SACS, shaping global academic discussions.
Key UK-Based Contributions (Pre-2010)
● Common Ground Newsletter:
1. A flagship international newsletter funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UK).
2. Functioned as a policy-academic interface connecting government agencies, NGOs, aid organizations, and academics.
● Academic and Training Initiatives: a. Instrumental in developing and validating the sustainable development/environmental module in the Lancashire University Summer School Program.
b. Initiated international short courses during summer months and laid the groundwork for an International One-Year Diploma in Sustainable Development & Environment.
● PhD Research Sponsorships: a. Supported three PhD studentships focusing on: ■ African women’s experiences of cultural change and migration.
■ The role of state and NGOs in Bangladesh.
■ Low-income housing challenges in Punjab.
● Historic Workshops: a. Organized a 1993 international workshop titled Building Environment Concerns into Development Practices at Edge Hill College, in collaboration with the Centre for Development Planning Studies at the University of South Bank (UK).
b. Addressed themes such as sustainable development post-UNCED and strategies for environmental planning and capacity-building.
Note: The UK branch ceased operations after 2010, leaving a lasting legacy that informs the Centre’s current work in Bangladesh.
ICDES in Bangladesh: Contemporary Research and Engagement
Following its integration with Sonargaon University in 2024, ICDES has expanded and refocused its activities to address the unique challenges of Bangladesh’s urban landscape and cultural heritage.
Key Bangladesh-Based Initiatives
● Transforming Cultural Narratives:
Launch Date: August 31, 2024
Focus: A series of discourses examining Bangladesh’s Liberation Movement, cultural transformations, and identity shifts.
Highlight: The inaugural session featured Dr. Qayyum Khan discussing Bittersweet Victory: A Freedom Fighter's Tale.
● HeritageX: Cross-Border Heritage Research:
Launch Date: October 1, 2024. Project will be launched in July 2025.
Collaborators: Scholars from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and broader South Asia
Objective: To investigate colonial and post-colonial architectural heritage with a focus on vernacular resilience.
Initial Project: Documentation and analysis of the Hazrat Hazi Khawja Shahbaz Khan Mosque.
● UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers Collaboration:
Partnership: With “নগর উপাখ্যানঃ Cityscape”
Site: Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur, Bangladesh
Goal: To provide hands-on training in heritage conservation and to support community-driven preservation efforts.
● International Conference on Megacity Dhaka (2025)
Title: Planning, Designs, and the Evolving Cultures of Dhaka: Political Transformations, Changing Heritage, and Negotiating Identities
Date: January 25, 2025
Venue: Hybrid (University College London & Sonargaon University, Dhaka)
Key Themes Include:
Impact of Densification: Examining how rapid, unplanned growth affects urban quality of life and spatial configuration.
Role of the Private Sector: Investigating strategies for improving very low-income settlements.
Emerging Real-Estate Culture: Analyzing production-led economies influencing urban spaces.
Cultural Protest and Memory: Exploring the influence of media, literature, and public demonstrations—from the 1952 language movement to the recent ‘second freedom’ of 2024—on Dhaka’s cultural identity.
Urban Planning & Architecture: Evaluating the role of planning and design in transforming Dhaka into a cultural hub.
● Revisiting Modernist & Vernacular Approaches Workshop (Bursa, Turkey, 2025)
Title: Lessons for Integrated Climate-Controlled Vernacular Landscapes of the Future
Date: July 23, 2025
Venue: Bursa Technical University, Turkey
Focus:
Integrating tropical modernism with vernacular architectural practices.
Regenerating historical landscapes through eco-conscious design.
Addressing sustainability challenges through climate-responsive urban planning.
ICDES is committed to:
Expanding cross-border research collaborations in heritage, sustainable urbanism, and vernacular studies.
Building a South Asian network for conservation and innovative urban planning.
Enhancing digital knowledge-sharing platforms to integrate academic research with policy and practice.
Launching a professional diploma program in Sustainable Development & Environmental Studies to further capacity-building efforts.