WaterAid Bangladesh, in collaboration with the embassy of Sweden, concluded the competition titled BioCity: Youth for Urban Wetland Revival at the Amari Dhaka of Gulshan in Dhaka on Saturday.
The competition engaged young minds in biodiversity enhancement and ecological restoration of the IPH Pond in Mohakhali, said a press release on Saturday.
Launched on January 27, the competition gathered over 140 submissions from teams across the country, each proposing innovative and sustainable strategies for the restoration and ecological rejuvenation models of the urban waterbody.Â
The initiative sparked enthusiasm, drawing interest from over 1,500 individuals and resulting in 140 team submissions, each consisting of 3-5 members aged 18-30.
To support participants in refining their ideas, two interactive knowledge-sharing sessions were held, where experts in biodiversity and wetland restoration shared their insights and experiences in tackling urban ecological challenges.
After the rigorous screening process, 11 finalist teams were selected to advance to the grand finale, held on March 19 at Amari Dhaka, Gulshan.
These teams had the opportunity to present their ideas in front of a distinguished jury panel, which was led by Iqbal Habib, vice-president of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan.
The jury also included Commodore ABM Shamsul Alam, chief waste management officer, Dhaka North City Corporation; Mostafizur Rahman, programme officer, climate and environment, embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh; Nehreen Majed, professor and head, department of civil engineering, University of Asia Pacific; and Haseeb Irfanullah, independent consultant in Environment, Climate Change, and Research System.
Following an intensive evaluation process, the jury has selected one winning team and three honourable mentions, recognising the most promising and impactful ideas for wetland restoration.
The winning proposal will be implemented on-site, allowing young innovators to see their vision come to life and contribute directly to the revival of the IPH Pond.
In addition, all finalist ideas have been showcased on WaterAid Bangladesh’s social media for public engagement.
The competition also introduced a popular choice award, where the public had the opportunity to vote for their favourite idea. With over 7,500 engagements, the popular choice teams were Water-Yard, Eco-planners and Team-Equinox.
The award-giving ceremony brought together jury members, finalists, and distinguished guests to celebrate the efforts of these young changemakers.
Hasin Jahan, country director of WaterAid Bangladesh, alongside the jury panel, presented awards to the winning team, honourable mentions, and the popular choice winner, acknowledging their dedication to restoring urban waterbodies and enhancing biodiversity.
The winning team, Water-Yard, focused on a critical issue—the lack of community ownership and connection to the pond.
Their proposal outlined five strategic interventions aimed at redefining public perception and introducing pond-centric livelihood opportunities to foster economic incentives for the surrounding community.
The honourable mention teams brought forward equally compelling ideas.