An idea competition titled ‘Khulna ENVOFRAME: Climate Solution for Sustainable Future’ was held at the Liaquat Ali Auditorium of Khulna University on Saturday. The team ‘Eco Tide Visionary’ became first in the competition. The team ‘Eco Warrior’ became the 1st runners-up while the team ‘Coastal Geo Guardian’ became the 2nd runners up.
A total of 36 teams from various universities of Khulna division submitted ideas in the competition and five teams were selected in the final stage; they presented their solution ideas in the competition.
In the event, the 1st place holder received a check of Tk. 50,000. The 1st runners-up Runners-up and the 2nd Runners-up were handed over the checks of Tk. 30,000 and Tk. 20,000 respectively. The prize winners received the checks from the chief guest, Khulna City Corporation Mayor Talukder Abdul Khalek.
Before presenting the award, Mayor Talukder Abdul Khalek said, environmental pollution and climate change affect our lives in many ways. We often don’t realize it but there is no way to avoid its effects. That’s why our behavior and mentality should be based on environmentally friendly solutions. Mentioning that the impact of climate change should be kept in mind; he further said that climate change is a big challenge for the present and future generations and there is a dire need for young leadership in this regard. Finally, everyone has the responsibility to contribute from their own place, he said.
Barrister Salim Altaf George, Member of Standing Committee on Ministry of Commerce and Standing Committee on Ministry of Commerce and Standing Committee on Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Mir Mostak Ahmed, Member of Standing Committee on Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and Standing Committee on Ministry of Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs were present as special guests on the occasion.
Khulna University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mahmud Hossain presided over the event. He emphasized the need of joint efforts to protect the environment and said that these efforts will play an important role in this regard.
Professor Md. Sanaul Islam, Head of Soil, Water and Environment Discipline; Associate Professor Asma Ul Husna, Head of Development Studies Discipline; Professor Md. Sharif Hasan Limon, Director of Student Affairs were also present in this event. Prof. Khan Golam Quddus, registrar of Khulna University, spoke on the same topic. Morshedul Bari, Co-Founder and CEO of EnvoLead and Mamun Mia, Executive Director of Earth Society were also present at the event.
The idea competition was organized by EnvoLead in collaboration with Khulna Climate Parliament-Bangladesh, Earth Society and Towards Sustainability. In the competition, participating teams from around 22 universities and colleges of Khulna division submitted video presentations identifying problems in their respective areas and their innovative solutions and positive impact to strengthen support for the SDGs.
Among the judges present in the finale of the event were renowned journalist, Jamuna Television Special Correspondent Mohsin ul Hakim; Ashok Adhikari, Regional Project Manager-Khulna Regional Office, Gender-Responsive Coastal Adaptation Project, UNDP Bangladesh and Tanya Noor, Innovation and Sustainability Advisor, EnvoLead Limited.
