The University of Dhaka and Stockholm University, in cooperation with the Clean Air Fund, held a high-level science-policy dialogue on black carbon and other short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) on 1 November 2026 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka. Scientists, policymakers, government representatives, international organisations and civil society met to discuss how science-guided action on SLCPs can advance climate goals, improve air quality and protect public health across South Asia.
The dialogue was chaired by Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Dhaka, and Professor Örjan Gustafsson of the Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University. Shaikh Faridul Islam, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was chief guest. The special guests were Dr. Mahdi Amin, Adviser to the Prime Minister and spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office; Professor Dr. S M Abdul Awal, Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) at the Prime Minister’s Office; and Nicolas Weeks, Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh.
In his remarks, as reported by the Daily Sun, Professor Salam said black carbon concentrations in Dhaka had fallen from around 40 µg/m³ in the past to between 6 and 12 µg/m³ in recent measurements, still well above the 0.1–2.5 µg/m³ seen in developed countries. He called for stronger enforcement of emission standards, cleaner transport and household energy, better monitoring of long-range pollution, and regional cooperation on transboundary air pollution.
The dialogue built on a long Bangladesh–Sweden collaboration in atmospheric science, including the Bangladesh Climate Observatory, Bhola, operated jointly by the University of Dhaka and Stockholm University since 2013, and the 2011 Bangladesh–Sweden policy dialogue in Dhaka that contributed to international cooperation on SLCPs through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
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In the news
- DU, Stockholm University hold dialogue on air pollution (Daily Sun, 1 November 2026)
- Bangladesh calls for science-led action on air pollution and fair climate finance (The Climate Watch, 1 November 2026)
- High-level policy dialogue on black carbon held (Daily Country Today)
- DU, Stockholm University to hold policy dialogue on black carbon (BSS)
- University of Dhaka announcement (18 October 2026)