WaterAid Bangladesh, in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden, concluded the BioCity: Youth for Urban Wetland Revival competition, an initiative to engage young minds in restoring the IPH Pond in Mohakhali.

Launched on January 27, the competition drew over 140 team submissions, each proposing sustainable restoration models for the urban waterbody.

Aimed at combating the rapid decline of Dhaka's wetlands, the initiative generated significant interest, with more than 1,500 individuals participating. Each team, comprising three to five members aged 18-30, submitted innovative ideas. To refine proposals, organizers held two knowledge-sharing sessions featuring experts in biodiversity and wetland restoration.

Following a rigorous selection process, 11 finalist teams advanced to the Grand Finale on March 19 at Amari Dhaka, where they presented before a distinguished jury led by Iqbal Habib, Vice President of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA). Other jurors included Commodore A.B.M. Shamsul Alam, Chief Waste Management Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation; Mostafizur Rahman, Programme Officer – Climate and Environment at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh; Dr. Nehreen Majed, Head of Civil Engineering at the University of Asia Pacific; and Dr. Haseeb Irfanullah, an independent consultant in environment, climate change, and research.

The jury selected one winning team and three honorable mentions, recognizing the most impactful ideas for wetland restoration. The winning proposal will be implemented, allowing young innovators to contribute directly to the revival of the IPH Pond. Finalist ideas were also showcased on WaterAid Bangladesh's social media, where the public voted for the Popular Choice Award. With over 7,500 engagements, the top teams in this category were Water-Yard, Eco-Planners, and Team-Equinox.

At the award ceremony on March 22 at Amari Dhaka, jury members and guests celebrated the contributions of young changemakers. WaterAid Bangladesh Country Director Hasin Jahan and the jury panel presented awards to the winners and finalists.

Winning team Water-Yard focused on a critical issue—community ownership of the pond. Their proposal introduced five strategic interventions to enhance public perception and create pond-centric livelihood opportunities. The design incorporates wetland farming, gender-inclusive spaces, and dense vegetation layers to strengthen climate resilience.

"If successfully implemented, the IPH Pond will become a thriving ecological and community space, benefiting the Sattala community while preserving aquatic life," the team stated.

Hasin Jahan praised participants, saying, "We welcome these young minds for their commitment to ecological and environmental issues."

Iqbal Habib, chief juror and BAPA vice president, added, "We long assumed young people lacked deep engagement in such issues. But the originality and practicality of their ideas proved us wrong."

Through BioCity: Youth for Urban Wetland Revival, WaterAid Bangladesh and the Embassy of Sweden reaffirm their commitment to restoring urban wetlands, enhancing biodiversity, and fostering youth-led sustainability solutions. The winning project will serve as a model for future conservation efforts.