Fatiha Polin is the founder of Perceive, a research organization working to apprehend, reveal and re-invent rural, peri-urban and urban phenomenon by interacting with a wide spectrum of stakeholders from Bangladesh and overseas. Her diversified interest lies in the intersection of culture, climate and disaster resilience; manifested in sustainable design reviving traditional techniques, environment friendly materials that are carbon neutral and harness local resources, empower communities and preserve cultural identity.
Apart from her regular work, she organizes the World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) program at the Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur, The Sundarbans, and The Architectural Works of Muzharul Islam and runs a fellowship to develop leadership in the field of heritage management. Preparing the Emergency Preparedness Plan for the Urban Heritage Buildings of Old Dhaka, Conservation Management Plan of Haripur Zamindar Bari, Documentation of Lohagora Moth are some of the notable works in the heritage field.
She has a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the Ahsanullah University of Science & Technology (AUST) and a Master’s in Disaster Management from Dhaka University (DU). She has experience in design & build shelter for the earthquake survivors of Nepal (2015), Cyclone Amphan (2020), Cyclone Yaas (2021) and Feni Flood (2024).
As part of the Social Responsibility Committee and Heritage committee of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) she pro-actively coordinates discourses, trainings and workshops. Matiyal Earthen Architecture workshop is one of the popular trainings conducted by Fatiha. The Rupgaon Knowledge Exchange Center designed by her and built in harmony with nature won the Berger Award for Excellence in Architecture in 2024 and got commendation in the second cycle of the UIA 2030 Award.
Her deep-rooted passion for heritage made her participate in many ICCROM, ICOMOS and UNESCO workshop such as Training on Volunteering on World Heritage and Climate Action (MadEx 2025) in Madagascar, Long-term Heritage Management in Bangladesh (2022), People-Nature-Culture (PNC19) in Srilanka.
She is an ACUMEN fellow, member of ICOMOS and focal point for the SDG working group from Bangladesh.
You may connect here:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fatiha-Polin
https://bd.linkedin.com/in/fatiha-polin