From May 25th to June 2th, 2019, a scientific expedition delegation from Chinese Academy of Sciences on key nodes of “Silk Road Environment Project”, including six professors and associate professors from two institutes of the Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR) and the Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics, conducted a field investigation on Dhaka, Chittagong and their surrounding zones in Bangladesh. They were invited by the Bangladesh University of Science and Technology. They mainly investigated natural environment conditions and climate effect on the Chinese companies constructing projects in Dhaka city and Chittagong in Bangladesh.

During the investigation in Dhaka and Chittagong, the Chinese scientists carried out a comprehensive study in the current situation of high-temperature heat wave and high-risk areas in Dhaka City, the Block 2A Reclamation Project in Mirsarai Industrial Park, Bangladesh conducted by China Civil Engineering Group Co., Ltd. and China Railway Port Construction and Navigation Authority Group Co., Ltd., Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka-Silkhart Road (N8 highway) project conducted by China Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd., and the construction of the Padma Bridge and other investment projects conducted by China Railway Construction Co., Ltd.. The delegation held meetings and exchanges with China Civil Engineering Group, China Railway Port Construction and Navigation Authority Group Co., Ltd., the project leaders of the Chongqing Branch of the Second Engineering Bureau of China Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. and the heads of various departments, as well as with the University of Science and Technology of Bangladesh. At the meeting, Yang Fei, an associate professor of the Institute of Geographic Science and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, introduced the background of the investigation, the content of the scientific research task, the main purpose and needs of the investigation. He also presented the high-resolution spatial distribution wall map of the risk assessment and key elements of the evaluation of heat wave disaster in Dhaka to Chinese invested company and Bangladesh University of Science and Technology. He denoted that the group will continue to produce the Comprehensive Atlas of Disaster Risk Assessment and Green Development of Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh, based on the natural and socio-economic data of the current investigation and their existed data base in Dhaka and Chittagong, Bangladesh, to provide theoretical and technical support for the local government and residents of Bangladesh and for the construction projects by China Investment Corporation in Bangladesh.

Guanjian He, the Chinese project manager of Chongqing Branch of the Second Engineering Bureau of China Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd., expressed his gratitude for the scientific support of the delegation, and he said that “The population density in Dhaka is high, the regional economy development is backward, and the risk of extreme high temperature is high. How to improve the ability of disaster prevention and coordinate sustainable development of human and land in the developing process of construction and economy, these urgently need systematic theoretical guidance and technical support from scientists.” Qi Long, the chief engineer of China Civil Engineering Group also hopes to be supported by the delegation on regional environmental assessment and geographic conditions in future overseas investment projects. 

Figure 1 workshop and communication

Figure 2 a construction project of Chinese investment company