Coastal water crisis met with grassroots ideas at water hackathon
BRAC, in partnership with the International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) and with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN), hosted a Water Hackathon to tackle Bangladesh's worsening drinking water crisis in coastal regions.
Held at the BRAC Centre in Mohakhali on Saturday, 19 July 2025, the Hackathon concluded with the announcement of two standout winners whose ideas aim to improve access to safe water in communities affected by salinity.
Shyam Shankaran won first prize for "Project JolBondhu: A Smart, Community-Driven Water Grid", praised for its cost-effective design and relevance to remote, underserved areas. The runner-up, AMCC, presented "Atmospheric Moisture for Coastal Community", a unique solution for harvesting water from air. Team members included Miftahul Jannat Labiba, Md Zahidul Alam and Dr Partho Das.
Both projects will now undergo pilot testing in selected coastal areas to assess their adaptability and feasibility for large-scale implementation.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Out of over 250 nationwide and international submissions, 11 teams were shortlisted to present their ideas to a panel of judges from government, academia, and development sectors.
The judging panel included Dr Shibly Sadik, Senior Policy Adviser, IWRM, EKN; AHM Khalequr Rahman, Superintendent Engineer, DPHE; Dr Sufia Khanom, Senior Research Fellow, BIISS; Dr Tanvir Ahmed, Professor, BUET; Arjen Naafs, Water and Climate Specialist, IRC Netherlands; Md Zillur Rahman, Head of Implementation, WASH, BRAC; and Sara Afreen, Head of Brand and Programme Communication, BRAC.
"This Hackathon is a powerful way to capture the organic thoughts of the young generation—what they truly think, unfiltered and full of potential," said Dr Tanvir Ahmed.
AHM Khalequr Rahman noted, "The ideas went beyond just technology—they embraced social solutions as well, reflecting a truly holistic approach."
The event brought together aspiring engineers, designers, technologists, and social entrepreneurs to address water scarcity through climate-resilient, community-led innovation. Organisers expressed hope that such initiatives will inform broader efforts in sustainable water management across Bangladesh and other climate-vulnerable regions.
