AUW’s “Voices for the Planet 2026” brought students together through eco-entrepreneurship, literature and climate comedy, showcasing creative, practical and engaging approaches to sustainability and environmental awareness.
Asian University for Women hosted a student-led sustainability event in Chattogram on April 15, bringing together green business ideas, climate-themed comedy and a book discussion under the banner “Voices for the Planet 2026”.
Organised at TaleSpace on the Mahsa Amini Campus, the event was arranged by the Green Bangle Project in collaboration with the AUW Student Government and the AUW Environmental Sciences Club, according to organisers.
The programme featured an Eco-preneurship Competition, a Book Launch and Discussion, a Climate Comedy segment and a Prize Giving Ceremony, combining innovation, creativity and environmental awareness in a single platform.
The Eco-preneurship Competition presented a wide range of student-led sustainable business ideas aimed at addressing real-world environmental challenges.
EcoPack, developed by Sarah Azam Khan, Sumaya Akter and Zohra Akbari, won first prize. GrowNotes: Paper that Grows, by Fariha Taskia Tomory and Anika Tabassum Shoumi, secured second place. Go Girls!, by Mehenu Marma, took third.
The competition also showcased a diverse range of initiatives, including CitrusCycle, Denim Totes, Pen Holder & Plastic Vases, Eco-bite, Incense Sticks from Recycled Flowers, CoCoPlanter, Plastic Bottle for Plantation, ReWear, DINLIPI – Denim Diary, Team Success, Jewelry Box, Tote Bag and Newspaper Paper Bags.
Organisers said the projects reflected practical approaches to repurposing waste materials, rethinking everyday consumption and transforming discarded resources into marketable products.
A key highlight of the event was the Book Launch and Discussion session, which explored women’s forgotten narratives, environmental histories and the connections between literature and the natural world.
The session featured Reclaiming Forgotten Narratives by Prof. Dr. Sangita Rayamajhi and Writing Zoological Natural History for British India by Prof. Dr. John Mathew. Organisers said the discussion encouraged a thoughtful exchange that connected past perspectives with present understanding.
Following the competition, Climate Comedy Night was held in collaboration with Inside the Greenhouse and the University of Colorado, offering what organisers described as a lighter but impactful way to engage audiences on climate issues.
Students performed short pieces blending satire, storytelling and everyday humour to unpack complex environmental concerns. The performances included exaggerated depictions of daily overconsumption, humorous takes on so-called eco-friendly trends, ironic conversations between humans and nature and witty portrayals of climate anxiety.
Some participants recreated classroom settings and family dialogues to highlight generational gaps in understanding climate change, while others used parody and role-play to criticise unsustainable habits and policy inaction.
Organisers said the performances created an atmosphere in which humour became a tool for reflection, helping the audience connect emotionally and intellectually with environmental challenges in a way that was accessible, memorable and thought-provoking.
In the Climate Comedy segment, first prize went to Pragya Chaudhary, Momtaz Akter and Pritilaxmi Chakma. Fariha Taskia Tomory and Anika Tabassum Shoumi placed second, while Anannya Katerina Hasdak and Nusrat Jahan Shifa finished third.
The event was attended by a panel of judges and guests including Dr. Arifur Rahman, founder of Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), Mr. Amzad Hossain, founder of Karnafuly Fishmeal Limited and Sonapahar Eco-Resort, Mr. Palak Paul, manager at KFL and Sonapahar Eco-Resort, Dr. Ahmedul Kabir, director of the MS in Apparel and Fashion Business Management at AUW, Mr. Masudur Rahman, professor of practice in Performance Arts at AUW, Dr. John Mathew, dean of Humanities at AUW, Dr. Shanta Dutta, assistant professor of Environmental Sciences at AUW, Dr. Sangita Rayamajhi, director of the Indigenous Peoples Center at AUW, Dr. Mohiuddin Ahsanul Kabir Chowdhury, associate dean of Natural Sciences at AUW, Ms. Zarina Hossain, director of the Service Learning Centre at AUW, Dr. Fatima Mary Sidotam, dean of Student Affairs at AUW and Mr. Tapu Chowdhury, director of Planning at AUW.
The event was organised by a team of student volunteers and Shaika Mohammad Chowdhury, assistant project manager of the Green Bangle Project, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Mosae Selvakumar Paulraj, project leader of the Green Bangle Project and director of the Environmental Sciences Program at AUW.
The initiative was conducted in collaboration with Inside the Greenhouse and the University of Colorado.
Organisers said the Green Bangle Project Showcase 2026 created a platform for students to engage with environmental issues through entrepreneurship, critical discussion and creative expression, reinforcing AUW’s commitment to sustainability and student-led impact.
