Offer educational programmes on fresh-water ecosystems (water irrigation practices, water management and conservation):

In summary, no single, clearly branded or officially announced large-scale community outreach programme by the University of Dhaka (DU) in 2024 was found that explicitly focused on educational programmes for local or national communities on fresh-water ecosystems, irrigation practices, or water management and conservation.

However, during 2024, several academic, training, and research-oriented activities conducted by different departments and institutes of the University of Dhaka addressed these themes directly or indirectly, contributing to knowledge dissemination relevant to local and national water management challenges. These are outlined below:

1. Academic Courses and Degree Programmes

The Department of Soil, Water and Environment at the University of Dhaka continued to offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in 2024. These curricula include comprehensive coverage of water resources, irrigation practices, soil–water relationships, and environmental water management, contributing to long-term capacity building in freshwater ecosystem management.

2. Training, Workshops, and Research-Based Activities

In 2024, departments such as Geography and Environment and the Disaster Research Training and Management Centre (DRTMC) organized and participated in training programmes, workshops, seminars, and research activities related to:

• Flood and water resource management
• Irrigation and agricultural water use
• Climate-resilient water practices
• Water conservation and disaster risk reduction

Although these activities primarily targeted professionals, researchers, and students, they generated practical knowledge applicable to local and national water management and community resilience.

3. Collaboration with National Water Institutions

In 2024, national-level training institutions such as the Institute for Water Modelling (IWM) conducted multiple capacity-building programmes on water management, modelling, GIS, and water-related development projects. Faculty members and researchers from the University of Dhaka participated in or collaborated with such initiatives, thereby contributing academic expertise to national water education and training efforts.

4. Applied Research on Sustainable Irrigation Practices

During 2024, University of Dhaka researchers were involved in applied research and publications related to sustainable irrigation systems, including solar-powered irrigation and water-efficient agricultural practices. These research outputs support knowledge transfer relevant to farmers, policymakers, and local communities.