Nationwide Sustainable Urban Design Competition Opens for University Students

University students across Bangladesh are invited to participate in a Sustainable Urban Design Idea Competition jointly organized by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), under the leadership of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works (MoHPW).

The competition was officially announced on April 7 this year with registration closing on April 27.

According to the organizers, the submission deadline is set for May 22 this year and jury assessment will begin on June 1, followed by the announcement of results on June 5.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 20.

Competition Theme & Design Brief

Titled “Low-Carbon, Inclusive, and Resilient Public Open Spaces for Dhaka,” the competition calls on students to reimagine public spaces that emphasize sustainability, inclusivity, and adaptability.

Participants are encouraged to propose designs that incorporate low-carbon, locally available materials, ensure accessibility and safety for users of all ages and abilities, and respond sensitively to Dhaka’s ecological systems, water networks, and climate conditions.

Jury Panel

The jury panel comprises leading architects, planners, and engineers from Bangladesh and abroad.

Members include Engr. Md. Reazul Islam, chairman of RAJUK; Md. Asifur Rahman Bhuiyan, chief architect of the Department of Architecture, MoHPW; Ar.Dr. Abu Sayeed M Ahmed, president of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB); Dr. S. M. Najmul Imam, professor and head of the Department of Architecture, BUET; Prof. Kazi Khaleed Ashraf, director general of the Bengal Institute of Architecture, Landscape and Settlement; Prof. Dr. Tanvir Manzur of the Department of Civil Engineering, BUET; Ar. Mohammad, Foyez Ullah, founder and principal architect of Volumezero Limited; Ar. Marina Tabassum, principal architect of the Marina Tabassum Architects; Mostaq Ahmed, chief town architect of RAJUK, and Md. Ashraful Islam, chief town planner of RAJUK.

International jury members include Ms. Celia Martinez, program management officer of UNEP, Paris; Prof. Ian Hamilton, vice dean of research of the University College London, UCL Energy Institute; Dr. Ilija Gubic, project manager of the UNOPS Nepal; Geoffrey Morgan, technical and team lead for Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure at the UNOPS Copenhagen.

Prize

The competition offers a total prize pool of BDT 10,00,000. The top three winners will receive BDT 3,00,000, BDT 1,50,000, and BDT 1,50,000 respectively.

In addition, four thematic awards—each valued at BDT 1,00,000—will recognize excellence in inclusive and accessible design, low-carbon solutions, climate resilience, and video presentation and reporting.

This initiative is part of the project “Transforming the Built Environment through Sustainable Materials”, implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI), and the Public Works Department (PWD), and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Further details on eligibility, submission guidelines, and terms can be found on the official competition website: https://transformingbuiltenvironmentbangladesh.com/