Kazi Jihadur Rashid

The Green Response Olympiad 2024, an initiative by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), concluded with a grand celebration of innovation and environmental stewardship. The event, organized by the Disaster and Climate Risk Management Department of BDRCS, saw enthusiastic participation from youth volunteers across the nation, showcasing their commitment to environmental sustainability.

Event Highlights:

• Top Prize: Narayanganj Unit was awarded the top prize for their outstanding solutions to plastic waste reduction.
• First and Second Runners-Up: The National Headquarters team and Dinajpur Unit were named first and second runners-up, respectively.

The final round of the Olympiad was inaugurated by Professor Dr. M. U. Kabir Chowdhury, Chairman of BDRCS. “It is our responsibility to prevent environmental damage,” he said. “I am hopeful that this Olympiad will bring forth creative and effective solutions to ensure a safe and green world for future generations.”

Special guest Mohammad Abdul Wadud Chowdhury, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, expressed optimism about the collaboration between the Red Crescent and the government. “The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with other governmental bodies, will work more closely with the Red Crescent to prevent environmental damage,” he stated.

Participant Engagement:

In the preliminary phase, youth volunteers from 68 units of BDRCS proposed various innovative ideas for environmental protection. From these, 11 units, including the national headquarters, advanced to the final round. Participants presented their ideas to a panel of distinguished judges:

• Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam, Chairman of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science at Dhaka University
• Dr. Fatema Akhter, Chairperson of the Department of Meteorology
• Sheikh Mohammad Mehedi Ahsan, Country Representative of IUCN

Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam praised the participants for their creativity. “The solutions presented by these young volunteers are not only innovative but also practical. They have shown that our youth can lead the way in environmental conservation,” he said.

Support and Collaboration:

The Olympiad was supported by the Swedish Red Cross and the German Red Cross, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in addressing environmental challenges. The success of the Green Response Olympiad 2024 underscores BDRCS's dedication to fostering innovation and promoting sustainable practices among its volunteers and staff.