Azka Eshita
Assistant Professor
Academic Qualifications:
1. Master of Science (Sustainable Urban Planning and Design), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
Design Thesis: The Perk of Collectve Acts: Public Realm Reimagined as Commons’
2. Bachelor of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka.
Design Thesis: Fashion Institute of Technology at Purbachal, Dhaka
Professional Experience:
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University. (Oct 2024 – Present)
2. Assistant Professor & Lecturer, Department of Architecture, State University of Bangladesh. (Sep 2015 – Sep 2024)
3. Assistant Proctor, State University of Bangladesh . (Feb 2021 – Sep 2024)
4. Freelance Consultant, Participatory Urban Design Project in Dhaka for Superwien Urbanism ZT GmbH, Vienna. (May 2021 – Jan 2022)
5. In-house Architect, Headoffice Communications, Dhaka. (2014–2015)
6. Assistant / Junior Architect, Saif Ul Haque Sthapati, Dhaka. (2012–2014)
AWARDS:
1. 3rd Commendation Award, Design of Re-envisioning Andark-illa Shahi Jame Mosque at Chattogram
Member of the Design team for the Open Architectural Design competition organized by
Institute of Architects Bangladesh.
2. Aga Khan Award for Architecture
Member of the Design Development team of winning project 'Arcadia Education Project',
South Kanarchar, Dhaka by Saif Ul Haque Sthapati.
3. Swedish Institute Study Scholarship (Currently SIGP)
Awarded the prestigious scholarship for 2017-2018 cycle for pursuing Master’s degree at
KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS:
1. ‘Fundamentals for Tertiary Educators (Teacher Training Basics)’, organized by Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Dhaka, Bangladesh. (09/2023)
2. ‘4th Grammo X Revival workshop’; A workshop held for strategical physical development for Jamdani Weavers’ village ,jointly organized by Daffodil International University and REVIVAL project, Dhaka, Bangladesh. (06/2022)
3. ‘Workshop in Nilphamari: Exploring Strategies for Future Physical Development,’ organized by Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscape & Settlements, Dhaka, Bangladesh. (02/2020)
4. ‘Oaxen Climavore on site Workshop with Cooking Section’, organized by KTH School of Architecture and Built Environment and Cooking Section in Oaxen, Stockholm. (04/2018)
5. Development Program for Faculties ‘Unlocking Potential; Embracing Change’ by State University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. (05/2016)
6. Academic Program on 'Architecture & the City', organized by Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscape & Settlements, Dhaka, Bangladesh. (10/2015)
7. Academic Program on ‘Cities & Settlements’, organized by Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscape & Settlements, Dhaka, Bangladesh. (08/2015)
8. Summer School on 'Towards Green Habitat: Based on Laurie Baker's Philosophy and Approach’, organized by Laurie Baker Centre for Habitat Studies, Kerala, India. (05/2015)
9. Workshop on ‘Integrating Urban Water Bodies in Dhaka's Fabric- an Imperative Issue of Sustainable City' Jointly organized by BUET, Bangladesh and KU Leuven, Belgium. (2009)
Area of Interest
Her research interests focus on urban sociology, public space, gender and inclusivity, participatory urbanism, and the politics of the commons, with a particular emphasis on rapidly transforming South Asian cities. Her work integrates field-based research, stakeholder engagement, and design-led inquiry to address questions of livability, equity, and spatial justice.
Research Work
Research Architect, Participatory Urban Design Project fo Shahjahanpur Jheel in Dhaka for Superwien Urbanism ZT GmbH, Vienna. Conducted surveys and group discussion with different stakeholders; primary findings are being published on Future Public Spaces: Urban Design in Times of Crisis Book.
a. Women’s Safety in Urban Public Spaces (Independent research): Developing a research to study gender-based violence on the streets of Dhaka and possible ways out within urban studies. Conducted surveys and group discussion; primary findings are being published on NEXT:50 book.
a. Sameen, S., & Eshita, A. (2025). Freedom of body and presence: Women’s inclusion in public spaces of Dhaka. In NEXT:50 Collective Future. The University Press Limited. ISBN 9789845064620
b. Eshita, A. (2023). Contributor. In Future Public Spaces: Urban Design in Times of Crisis (1st ed.). Jovis Verlag. ISBN 978-3-98612-001-6
c. Salam, F., Rahman, M., & Eshita, A. (2020). Sustainable urban landscape planning: A search for possibilities around the periphery of Dhaka city—A focus on the Bosila Bridge area. Journal of State University of Bangladesh, 10(1–2). ISSN 1998-3778.