Dr. M. Rafiqul Islam

Dr. M. Rafiqul Islam (PhD, University of Verona) is a scholar of water governance, climate change, and sustainable development with extensive interdisciplinary research experience. He began working as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Development Studies and Sustainability (IDSS), School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SoHS), United International University (UIU), Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he contributes to advancing research and pedagogy on development, climate resilience, and community sustainability.

Dr. Islam previously served as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow and INVITE Early Stage Researcher at the Department of Economics, University of Verona, Italy. He also worked as a Research Associate at Dhaka University, and held research positions at institutions such as the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), DECCMA, BRAC, and IDRC.

Dr. Islam has presented his work at global forums such as the International Conference on Sustainable Development, World Water Congress, European Researcher’s Night, and international sustainability conferences, and has served as a reviewer for leading journals in water resources and climate governance.

He holds academic degrees from the University of Verona (PhD in Economics), University of Twente (MSc in Water Governance), and University of Dhaka (MBA in Banking), along with several professional training in impact assessment, academic writing, soft skills development, and climate research methods.

His work is driven by a commitment to evidence-based policy, inclusive governance, community empowerment, and sustainable development, with a particular focus on Bangladesh and the Global South.

Dr. M. Rafiqul Islam (PhD, University of Verona) is a scholar of water governance, climate change, and sustainable development with extensive interdisciplinary research experience.

Dr. M. Rafiqul Islam holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Verona, Italy (2022), where he specialized in interdisciplinary research on development, governance, and environmental change. He completed an MSc in Water Governance (2017) at the University of Twente, the Netherlands, graduating with an excellent academic record. Prior to that, he earned an MBA in Banking (2012) from the University of Dhaka with distinction, and a BBA (Hons.) in Finance and Accounting (2008) from Leading University, achieving one of the highest results in his cohort.

'2023. Factors Influencing Economic Benefit of Rainwater Harvesting: An Empirical Analysis. AQUA-Water Infrastructure, Ecosystems and Society. 72 (1): 32–48. Impact Factor: 3.007. Index: Web of Science, Scopus, DOAJ. Available at: https://iwaponline.com/aqua/article/doi/10.2166/aqua.2022.040/92527/Factors-influencing-economic-benefit-of-rainwater',

'2022. Impact of climate-induced extreme events and demand supply gap on water resources in Bangladesh. Journal of Water and Climate Change. 13 (4): 1878–1899. Impact Factor: 2.803. Index: Scopus, DOAJ, SCIE, UGC CARE. Available here: https://iwaponline.com/jwcc/article/13/4/1878/87439/Impact-of-climate-induced-extreme-events-and',

'2021. The Adverse Impact of Ecosystem Degradation and Poor Governance on Marginalized People. North American Academic Research. Volume 4, Issue 3, 212-229. Impact Factor: 3.75. Index: Google Scholar, EuroPub. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4644052',

'2020. Water Access in Changing Climate in Bangladesh: A Study of Social Impact on Women Who manage Household Water. Bandung Journal of Global South. 7. 107-129. Index: Web of Science, Scopus. Available here: https://brill.com/view/journals/bjgs/7/1/article-p107_107.xml?language=en',

'2019. Rainfall in Bangladesh: Is Rainwater Harvesting a Sustainable Approach for Governing Rainwater? European Journal of Sustainable Development. 8( 5):433-444. Index: Google Scholar, Index Copernicus International. Available here: https://ecsdev.org/ojs/index.php/ejsd/article/view/953',

'2019. Rainwater Harvesting for Fighting Climate-Induced Water Poverty Problem in Coastal Bangladesh. Archeology and Anthropology: Open Access. Volume 03, Issue 02. Index: Google Scholar, Web of Science. EuroPub. https://crimsonpublishers.com/aaoa/fulltext/AAOA.000577.php',

'2018. The Socio-Economic Impact of the Freshwater Crisis in Mongla, Bangladesh Brolly. Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 01, No. 02, 111-130. Index: Google Scholar, Index Copernicus International. https://www.journals.lapub.co.uk/index.php/Brolly/article/view/67',

'2018. Rainwater Harvesting to Reduce Water and Economic Poverty in Coastal Bangladesh. Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science, 37, 39-59. Index: DOAJ. https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.37.3',

'with Hossen M A 2017. Connection among Water, Agriculture, and Human Rights and Its Concerns in Bangladesh. Archeology and Anthropology: Open Access. Volume 01, Issue 01. Google Scholar, Web of Science. EuroPub. Available at: https://crimsonpublishers.com/downloadPdf.php?folder=aaoa&file=AAOA.000504',

With Martha Cassidy-Neumiller, Nidhi Nagabhatla & Alix Debray, 2024. Cross-Border Water Management. In: Philippe De Lombaerde (ed.), Handbook of Regional Cooperation and Integration. , Chapter 17. Pages 372-396, Edward Elgar Publishing.

With Hossen M A 2017. Ecological Integrity of the Brahmaputra Basin for Community Livelihoods in Bangladesh, In: Hussain, A. (eds.), Bangladesh’s Neighbours in Indian Northeast: Exploring Opportunities and Mutual Interest, Part III, Dhaka, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, p149-176