IWM

Academic Chronology

Mr. Goutam Chandra Mridha began his academic career in civil engineering at the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1998. His dedication to water resources led him to pursue advanced studies abroad, where he was awarded the prestigious Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) scholarship. With this scholarship, he enrolled in a joint international Master’s program and successfully completed his Master of Science in Water Resources Engineering at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KULeuven) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium, in 2005. During his postgraduate studies, he focused on hydrology and groundwater modelling, receiving international recognition for his research. For his master’s dissertation, he received the Development Cooperation Award (2006) from the Government of Belgium. His academic journey not only strengthened his theoretical foundation in water resources but also provided him with international exposure and advanced training in Europe, which became a cornerstone of his professional career.

Professional Track Record

Mr. Goutam Chandra Mridha has more than 26 years of experience in hydrology, hydrogeology, and mathematical modelling with a special focus on wetland restoration and protection, water resources management, agricultural development and food security. He has been serving the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) since 1999 in different capacities and is currently the Director of  the Irrigation, Groundwater & Wetland Management (IGW) division of IWM.

His professional responsibilities have included:

• Guidance and supervision of multi-disciplinary study team to execute and complete the study in time as a Team Leader/ Project Supervisor/ Project Leader under the Irrigation, Groundwater and Wetlands Management Division.
• Preparation of project plan, schedules and time framework for completion of activities in time and publications of reports.
• Worked as a resource person in a number of projects with the responsibility of necessary data collection, quality checking and processing as well as surface water & surface water- groundwater (SW-GW) interaction model development, water stress area identification, wetland management, master plan development, climate change scenario analysis for the respective studies for both the home and abroad (Malaysia and others).
• Engaged in the process of preparation of adaptation pathways for different strategy/program for the project of “Support to Implementation of Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100”.
• Contribute to the development of different national strategies, policies and development plans.
• Preparation of inception, progress, technical and final reports. Authored and presented a number of technical papers in National and International seminars. Actively participated in interaction meetings and workshops of respective projects.

Training/Membership/Workshop/Seminar/Publication etc.

Goutam Chandra Mridha has enhanced his expertise through training in mathematical modelling at the Institute of Water Modelling, and he has participated in prominent conferences both nationally and internationally.

Training Received:

• One-week training on WUEMED training course on Integrated approaches to improve drought tolerance in crops, University of Bologna, Italy.
• Two weeks training on “Water Supply and Waste Management”, guided by ITN-Bangladesh (sponsored by DANIDA and supported by UNDP-WB, RWSG-SA, Dhaka).
• One-month training on “Mathematical Modelling for Drainage and Irrigation system by Using MIKE – 11, MIKE-GIS, HYMOS”, IWM.
• One-month training on “Data collection and processing” for hydrometric, hydrometeorological, and spatial data, DHI/IWM.
• Training on “Velocity measurement and data processing for discharge measurement” by ADCP, Brystroke, Valleport – DHI/IWM.
• Training on DGPS and optical/electronic surveying instruments (Total Station, Theodolite, Level machines), IWM.
• Training on river morphological data collection and processing using sediment sampling, IWM.

Training Delivered

• Groundwater Modelling using MIKE SHE – JPS Malaysia, BCMCL, IWM, BWDB, DPHE, WARPO.
• Groundwater Modelling using VISUAL MODFLOW – IWM.
• Groundwater Flow and Saline Intrusion Modelling using MIKE SHE & FEFLOW – BWDB.
• Groundwater Flow Modelling using MIKE SHE – DPHE.

Publications:

1. Mridha, G.C., Hossain M. M., Uddin, M.S., Masud, M.S. (2019): Study on Availability of Groundwater Resources in Selangor State of Malaysia to Meet the Future Water Demand for an Efficient Planning and Management of Water Resources. Journal of Water and Climate Change.
2. Mridha, G.C., Uddin, M.S., Mamun, A., Hossain, M. M. (2018): Groundwater Quality Characterization of Selangor State, Malaysia. Proc. 4th ICWR, Langkawi, Malaysia.
3. Islam, M.M., Mridha, G.C., Haque, E. (2013): Assessment of Safe Drinking Water Resources for Bagherpara Pourashava. Proc. 4th ICWFM, BUET, Dhaka.
4. Nishat, B., Mridha, G.C., Kamal, M.M., Rahman, S.M.M. (2006): Urban Water Management: Use of Computer-based Analytical Tools in Bangladesh. Journal of IEB, Dhaka.
5. Mridha, G.C., Batelaan, O. (2005): Groundwater Modelling for Management – A Case Study in Bangladesh. Proc. Int. Conf., ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
6. Mridha, G.C., Batelaan, O. (2005): Optimal Allocation of Irrigation Demand and Its Impact on Groundwater – A Case Study in Bangladesh. Proc. Int. Conf., Rome, Italy.

Major Project Assignment

• Assessment of water resources availability and lowest safe yield of aquifer in 10 districts of the North-Central Hydrological Regions of Bangladesh (2025–ongoing)
• Comprehensive Study on Livelihood and Integrated Management of Land and Water Resources in Arial Beel Area (2024–2025)
• Restoration of Waterbodies for Sustainable Water Management in Dhaka Watershed (2023–2025)
• Feasibility study for “Dhaka City Emergency Water Supply Project” of Construction Supervision of DWASA Production Tube wells (including new Installation/ Replacement/ Regeneration/Rehabilitation), Iron Removal Plants and Rainwater Harvesting Plants under Emergency Water Supply Project and Feasibility Study for Sustainable Water Supply Project (Phase-01) (2023–2024)
• Greater Dhaka District Irrigation Area Development Project (4th Phase) (2024–2025)
• Hydrology Study for the Khulna Water Supply Project Phase - II (2024)
• Study on Water Resources Availability and Impact due to abstraction, use and discharge to the project area and surroundings considering the shallow and deep aquifer, EIA, SIA and model simulation for Sreepur 150 (±10%) MW Power Plant Project (2023–2024)
• Study for Assessment of the Effectiveness of Constructed/ to be Constructed Rubber Dams in Bangladesh (2023–2024)
• Hydrological Investigation and Modelling of the State of Surface and Groundwater Resources in the High Barind Region (2021–2023)
• Feasibility Study for Augmentation, Conservation and Wise Use of Surface Water Resources through Dredging of the Upstream of Teesta Barrage and Bank Protection Work of the Teesta River in Kurigram District (2022–2023)
• Updating Feasibility Study for Kurigram Irrigation Project (North and South Unit)-Component-1 (2021–2022)
• Study on Aquifer Mapping and Groundwater Resource Assessment for Management of eco-friendly Sustainable Agricultural Development in Bangladesh (2018–2021)
• Hydrogeological Investigation in Connection with the Probable Site Selection for Construction of Nuclear Power Plant in the Southern Part of Bangladesh (2020)
• Comprehensive Feasibility Study for Sustainable Restoration and Protection of Wetlands (Haor, baor, beel and connected rivers etc.) in Different Hydrological Regions of Bangladesh (2019–2022)
• Study for Investigation of Groundwater and Surface Water Irrigation in Habiganj, Maulavibazar, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and Kishoreganj Districts (2016–2019)
• National Water Balance Management System (NAWABS) bagi Lembangan Sungai Muda, Malaysia (2016–2019)
• Study for Upgrading and Rehabilitation of (a) Karnaphuli Irrigation Project (Halda and Ichamati Unit), (b) Fatikchari FCDI Project, (c) Halda Extension Irrigation Project and (d) Nishchintapur FCDI Project with ESIA in Hathazari, Rauzan, Rangunia and Fatikchari Upazillas in Chittagong District (2015–2018)
• Assessment of State of Water Resources (2015–2017)
• Availability Study on Groundwater Resource for Selangor Water Management Authority, Malaysia (2013–2015)
• Hydrogeological Study with Groundwater Modelling in Northern Part of Barapukuria Coal Mine Area (2012–2014)
• Groundwater Management and Feasibility Study for 148 Pourashavas having no piped water supply (2010–2014)
• Mathematical modelling for saline water intrusion (2011–2013)
• Study on Well Field Construction for Immediate Supplement to City Water Supply from nearby Groundwater Sources (2008)
• Deep Tubewell Installation Programme BMDA Unit-2, Thakurgaon (2007–2010)
• Mathematical Modelling Support for Updating the Feasibility Study of Kurigram Irrigation Project (South Unit) (2007–2009)
• Topographic Survey and Detail Irrigation Planning Using Mathematical Modelling Technique, Kurigram Irrigation Project (North Unit) (2007–2009)
• Industrial Environmental Compliance and Pollution Control in Greater Dhaka, Phase-1 (2006–2007)
• Resource Assessment and Monitoring of Water Supply Sources for Dhaka City (2005–2006)
• Feasibility and Model Study for Rehabilitation of Flood Control Embankment on Both Banks of Gumti River (2001–2003)
• Arsenic Contamination of Ground Water - A Case Study in Narayanganj - Narshingdi Area in Bangladesh (2001–2003)
• Command Area Development (CAD) in Meghna Dhonagoda Irrigation Project (MDIP) (2001)
• Mathematical Modelling and Detailed Feasibility of Sagarkhali- Borobeela Drainage Project (1999–2001)