Three Bangladeshi enterprises honoured for Green Transition

In a landmark move to celebrate and encourage contributions to a just, feminist green climate transition, ActionAid Bangladesh has launched the first-ever Feminist Green Action Award 2025. The award recognises outstanding efforts by small and medium enterprises (SMES) and corporate entities that are leading the way in sustainable and inclusive environmental practices.

This year, the award was conferred upon two SME entrepreneurs and one corporate organisation across two distinct categories. The winners were honoured at a vibrant ceremony held on Wednesday evening (14 May) at a hotel in Dhaka.

In the SME category, Tripty Boutique House under the Centre for Development and Peace (CDP) and Ecolery Bangladesh were the awardees. In the corporate category, Aman Spinning Mills Ltd. was recognised. The SME recipients were presented with a monetary prize and a commemorative crest, and the corporate recipient was presented with a commemorative crest. All nominees received certificates for their respective businesses.

Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, moderated the event. Attendees included diplomats, representatives from civil society organisations, corporate stakeholders, and numerous small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs.

The Feminist Green Action Award 2025 marks its debut this year under the auspices of ActionAid Bangladesh. Applications for the award were submitted online, and after a rigorous review process by an expert panel, three finalists were selected.

The distinguished jury comprised Nasreen Fatema Awal, Founding President of the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB); Suraya Akter, Country Manager of suPPPort; Biplob Ghosh Rahul, CEO of eCourier Limited; Tanjir Hossain, Global Resilience Advisor, IHART at ActionAid International; Shaheda Khatun Dalim, Project Manager of Protection and Livelihood, Humanitarian Response of ActionAid Bangladesh; and Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh.

This year, the selection process focused on initiatives prioritising sustainable production and supply chains, environmentally responsible infrastructure, just transition and green employment, and gender-sensitive innovation.

Presiding over the event, Farah Kabir said, "This initiative is the first of its kind in Bangladesh to recognise and celebrate the role of SMES and corporates in building a fair and feminist green future. This award is a significant step towards achieving an equitable and sustainable world. Through this recognition, we aim to inspire others to join the movement for green transformation and drive positive change for people and the planet alike."

Distinguished jury member Nasreen Fatema Awal emphasised the critical role of feminist approaches to climate transformation and the invaluable contributions of SMES and corporates in this domain.

She stated: "The SMES and private sector possess a unique ability to foster change through innovation and agile implementation. Their leadership in environmentally friendly technologies and gender-sensitive policies will be vital in advancing our nation's green transition."

The event also featured classical music performances by Ilham Fuljhuri Khan, Isra Fuljhuri Khan and Nusrat E Jahan Khushbu. At the same time, Jazz was performed by prominent musicians Imran Ahmed, Mithun Chakra, Jalal Ahmed and Alistair Sarker Raj. The programme concluded with closing remarks from Ibrahim Khalil Al-Zayad, Chairperson of AAIBS. He noted, "As climate change continues to accelerate, the time has come for us to embrace a green transformation. We hope this award will motivate other organisations to adopt environmentally sustainable and gender-conscious practices, contributing to the collective effort for a greener, more resilient future."

Special guests Belinda Morrissey, Executive Board Member of AAIBS and Chair of ActionAid Australia, and Kristina Stefanova, Board Director of ActionAid Australia, attended the award event.