Bootcamp of hope: Young Bangladeshis lead climate-smart ventures

As Bangladesh faces the growing impacts of climate change, a new wave of young entrepreneurs and women leaders is turning challenges into opportunities.

The Master Bootcamp 2025, a two-day residential programme, has spotlighted climate-smart business ideas designed to address pressing environmental and social issues.

Organised by The Earth under the Green Voices: Empowering Women and Youth for Climate Action in Bangladesh project, the event brought together 20 participants from 10 teams across the country.

The project is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, managed by The Asia Foundation, and implemented by The Earth and Bonhishikha.

Held on 28–29 July at a resort near the capital, the bootcamp focused on practical innovation, with teams addressing plastic pollution, agricultural waste, and gender inequality through technology and community-driven entrepreneurship.

The top five teams received Tk1 lakh each to support their initiatives. The winning teams are Eco Sentinels Bangladesh, Rebuilding Earth's Future, APOS, Sugar Cycle, and For the Light.

Climate ideas from the frontlines

Participants came from some of the country's most vulnerable areas, including flood-prone Barishal, cyclone-hit Khulna, and the saline coasts of Satkhira.

Their proposals reflected both local needs and broader climate resilience strategies.

Eco Sentinels Bangladesh from Khulna is working on floating agricultural platforms made from recycled plastic waste.

"By applying hydroponics and aquaponics technologies, it enables crop production on otherwise unusable land," said team member Md Rezwanul Islam Shuvo.

Rebuilding Earth's Future, based in Barishal, promotes composting and household recycling.

Team member Dilara Islam Opi explained, "Our mission is to raise awareness and promote 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) practices at the household level to build a cleaner, healthier Barishal."

Sugar Cycle from Chattogram is turning sugarcane waste into biodegradable products.

"We trained and employed over 15 women from the Sholoshahar slum, creating sustainable livelihoods and positive community change," said team member Durjoy Bhowmick.

Other winners included Aposh, developing climate-resilient building materials in Satkhira, and For the Light from Patuakhali, which is creating solar-powered literacy and safety tools.

"Our device provides clean energy and an SOS alert system, offering a lifeline for women at risk," said team leader Md Alamin Pranto.

"For years, rural women have managed water, food, and fuel under pressure. Now, they are emerging as solution-makers." – Sara Taylor, country representative, The Asia Foundation

Women at the forefront

The programme placed strong emphasis on inclusivity, with half the participants being women. Organisers highlighted this as a significant shift in a field often dominated by men.

"For years, rural women have managed water, food, and fuel under pressure. Now, they are emerging as solution-makers, not just survivors," said Sara Taylor, visiting country representative from The Asia Foundation.

Participants received mentorship on business planning, investment strategy, and impact assessment.

Advisory panel member Alvi Rahman noted, "This is not a one-off event. It is part of a long-term pipeline to foster green entrepreneurship in Bangladesh."

The initiative aligns with Bangladesh's national climate goals and global frameworks such as SDG-13 (Climate Action) and SDG-5 (Gender Equality).

"Today's participants are tomorrow's policymakers, entrepreneurs, and guardians of our environment," said Maj Gen (retd) AKM Muzahid Uddin, chairman of The Earth.

With more innovation challenges planned, organisers say they aim to expand the project to reach grassroots innovators nationwide.

As Bangladesh navigates climate uncertainty, initiatives like this bootcamp are helping communities prepare, adapt, and lead the way towards a sustainable future.