Bangladesh youth competition fosters urban wetland revival
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — WaterAid Bangladesh, in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden, successfully concluded the ‘BioCity: Youth for Urban Wetland Revival’ competition, an initiative aimed at engaging young minds in restoring the IPH Pond in Mohakhali. WaterAid, a global non-governmental organization focused on clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, has been actively working to address water-related challenges worldwide.
Launched on 27 January 2025, the competition sought to inspire youth to develop sustainable solutions to counter Dhaka’s rapid wetland decline. Over 1,500 individuals showed interest, leading to 140 team submissions. Each team, comprising members aged 18-30, proposed innovative strategies for ecological restoration. To refine their ideas, participants attended two expert-led knowledge-sharing sessions on biodiversity and wetland rehabilitation.
Following a rigorous selection process, 11 finalist teams advanced to the Grand Finale, held on March 19 at Amari Dhaka, Gulshan. A jury panel led by Iqbal Habib, Vice President of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), evaluated the proposals alongside experts from Dhaka North City Corporation, the University of Asia Pacific, and the Swedish Embassy.
The winning team, ‘Water-Yard,’ addressed the lack of community engagement with the pond, proposing five strategic interventions to integrate biodiversity conservation with livelihood opportunities. The initiative aims to transform the IPH Pond into a thriving ecological and social space, benefiting the Sattala community while preserving aquatic life. The design incorporates wetland farming, gender-inclusive spaces, and dense vegetation layers to enhance climate resilience.
At the Award Giving Ceremony on March 22, jury members and guests honored the winning team, three honorable mentions, and the Popular Choice winners—Water-Yard, Ecoplanners, and Equinox—who received over 7,500 public votes.
WaterAid Bangladesh’s Country Director, Hasin Jahan, praised the participants, stating, “We welcome these young minds for their commitment to ecological and environmental issues.” Jury chair Iqbal Habib added, “We long assumed young people lacked deep engagement in such issues. But the originality and practicality of their ideas proved us wrong.”
The winning proposal will now be implemented, allowing young innovators to see their vision come to life while contributing to the preservation of Dhaka’s urban wetlands.
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