Diplomatic Correspondent

The National Earth Olympiad (NEO) 2025 Award Ceremony, a flagship initiative of the Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative (BYEI), was held recently at the residence of the French Ambassador to Bangladesh, Marie Masdupuy in the capital’s Gulshan.

The ceremony brought together a diverse gathering of students, educators, academics, policymakers, diplomats, NGO and CSO leaders, civil servants, and corporate and development professionals to honour the next generation of environmental leaders in Bangladesh, on Saturday (July 5).

In her opening speech, Ambassador Masdupuy lauded BYEI’s ongoing commitment to youth-led climate advocacy. She congratulated the organizers and participating students for their dedication to environmental education, stressing the need for increased political commitment and a more strategic political approach to combat the climate and ecological challenges facing Bangladesh.

Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Standing Committee Member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), attended the event as the Chief Guest. In his address, he reflected on his long-standing engagement with environmental movements in Bangladesh and emphasized that achieving environmental justice requires political involvement.

“Without political engagement, the path to climate and ecological justice remains incomplete,” Dr Moyeen said, calling for a more localized and politically informed approach to environmental advocacy.

Prominent political figures, including BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, alongside Dr Mahdi Amin, Adviser to the BNP Acting Chairman, and academician-politician Bobby Hajjaj also attended the event to express their support for the youth-led movement.

The ceremony also saw the attendance of Vice Chancellors from North South University, Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), and Southeast University, alongside senior academicians and development professionals.

This year’s Olympiad began with more than 1,500 students in the preliminary round. Approximately 1,000 students advanced to the divisional round, and around 750 students sat for the national-level exam. 

Following a rigorous selection process that included Green Day Training (GDT) workshops and the Bangladesh Team Selection Test, the top four students were chosen to represent Bangladesh at the upcoming International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) 2025 in China.

The selected team members are Mohammad Tahmid Rahman as Champion, Omar Bin Arif as 1st Runner-up, Sheikh Fahim Mahmud as 2nd Runner-up, and Faaris Ahmed Aayan as 3rd Runner-up. Their selection marks the continuation of Bangladesh’s success at the international stage, where past participants have secured 4 Gold, 4 Silver, and 17 Bronze medals.

In his concluding remarks, BYEI Founder and Executive Director Shamir Shehab shared the journey of the organization since its inception and praised the contributions of students, volunteers, and mentors who have helped build a nationwide youth movement for environmental justice.

The NEO 2025 Award Ceremony ended on a high note, celebrating not just academic excellence but also the passion and determination of Bangladesh’s young earth scientists and climate advocates.

Founded in 2009, BYEI has been at the forefront of fostering environmental awareness and education among Bangladeshi youth. Its flagship program, the National Earth Olympiad, aims to engage students in the study of Earth and environmental sciences, preparing them to face the environmental challenges of the future.