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Bangladesh Meteorological Department

department · verified (verified 2026-05-18)

Profile

Head
Md. Momenul Islam
Role
Director (Current Charge)
Annual budget
—
Staff
—
Established
1971
Legal basis
Meteorology Act, 2018 (আবহাওয়া আইন, ২০১৮); predecessor operations under the British India meteorological network from 1867, reorganised as Pakistan Meteorological Services in 1947, reconstituted as BMD upon Bangladesh's independence in 1971

The department is focused on improving the accuracy and timeliness of early warnings for volatile pre-monsoon weather events including severe thunderstorms and cyclone development.

Recent activity

Provenance & notes

BMD traces its operational history to 1867 (Satkhira observatory), reorganised as Pakistan Meteorological Services in 1947, reconstituted as BMD upon independence in 1971; the Meteorology Act 2018 is the current statutory basis (bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd). Parent entity is Ministry of Defence -- a historically unusual arrangement for a civilian meteorological body. Current head Md. Momenul Islam (born 31 October 1968, Brahmanbaria) was appointed Director (Current Charge) on 21 November 2024, serving in an acting capacity; he has 28+ years in BMD including cyclone forecasting, joined 1996 via BPSC competitive examination; his resume is publicly posted on the official BMD website. Budget and sanctioned staff figures are not published in accessible form on the BMD or Ministry of Defence portals; annual procurement plan for FY2025-26 exists on the site (bmd.gov.bd/bmd_web/p/APP-2025-2026) but does not specify total allocation. Activity score 9 reflects a department that is publicly active with daily forecasts, regular press statements, and multiple hazard warnings within the 90-day window, though it is not a political news driver.

Sources