About the event Our SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya (SERVIR-HKH) Initiative is collaborating with the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), NASA SERVIR Science Coordination Office (SCO) and the NASA – Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT) on the implementation of High Impact Weather Assessment Toolkit (HIWAT) for the BMD. The NASA SERVIR Applied Sciences Team developed the system and further customized it for Bangladesh. BMD has invested its own resources to install HIWAT on its high-performance computing cluster to support its operational forecasts. Objective The event will officially launch HIWAT Bangladesh, which will enhance BMD’s capacity to simulate extreme weather hazards and issue operational forecasts. Expected participants BMD officials, ICIMOD representatives, and invited guests from relevant institutions including development partners, university faculty, and media persons will join the launch event at BMD’s premises. Participants from NASA and USAID will join the event virtually. Tentative agenda WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH 2022 Time (BST) Programme 10:30–10:35 Welcome remarks – Abdul Mannan, Meteorologist, BMD 10:35–10:50 Presentation on the BMD’s weather and climate forecast systems – Abdul Mannan, Meteorologist, BMD 10:50–11:05 HIWAT Bangladesh (Boisakhi) and its functional aspects – Birendra Bajracharya, Chief of Party – SERVIR-HKH, ICIMOD 11:05–11:10 Remarks by special guest – Pete Epanchin, Senior Climate Adaptation and Resilience Advisor, USAID 11:10–11:15 Remarks by special guest – Dan Irwin, SERVIR Global Programme Manager, NASA 11:15–11:20 Launch event/ribbon cutting ceremony of the HIWAT for Bangladesh – Director, BMD/Director, ICIMOD 11:20–11:25 Remarks by NASA leadership 11:25–11:40 Remarks by chief guest – Md. Azizur Rahman, Director, BMD Remarks – Basanta Raj Shrestha, Director Strategic Cooperation, ICIMOD 11:40–12:00 Q&A 12:00–12:05 Vote of thanks – Birendra Bajracharya, Chief of Party – SERVIR-HKH, ICIMOD 12:05–13:30 Lunch