In what may be one of the country’s largest school-based innovation and environmental campaigns, nearly 30,000 educational institutions across Bangladesh are set to join a nationwide drive to nurture future entrepreneurs, scientists and climate-conscious citizens.
The government will launch a dual initiative on June 28 that combines a national science and innovation competition with an ambitious program to plant 50 million trees under the slogan “One Child, One Tree.”
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to inaugurate both programs at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, where the country’s top 100 student teams will showcase science projects, startup ideas and grassroots innovations selected from thousands of entries nationwide.
Officials say the initiative reflects a broader effort to move students beyond rote learning and equip them with practical problem-solving skills, creativity and environmental awareness.
“Education cannot remain confined to textbooks alone,” said Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) Director General Prof Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel.
“We want students to think critically, solve local problems through innovation and become future entrepreneurs and leaders. At the same time, they must understand the climate challenges Bangladesh will face in the coming decades.”
The program comes as policymakers increasingly push for education reforms aimed at preparing young people for a technology-driven economy while strengthening climate resilience in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries.
Under the nationwide “Startup, Science Project and Innovation Idea Showcasing” competition, students from classes VI to XII in schools and madrasas participated in a three-tier selection process involving upazila, district and metropolitan-level contests.
According to DSHE, the competition drew participation from across the country, with each team consisting of three students and two teachers.
Following competitions at upazila and district levels earlier this month, the best 100 teams have been selected for the national final in Dhaka.
The winning projects will be chosen through final evaluation on June 27, with awards and prize money to be distributed the following day.
Education officials say many of the projects focus on practical solutions to local challenges, ranging from agriculture and water management to technology and environmental protection.
Running alongside the innovation competition is a nationwide greening campaign that aims to plant 50 million indigenous trees through schools, colleges and madrasas.
Under the “One Child, One Tree” program, tree planting will begin simultaneously at 29,621 educational institutions, including 18,907 schools, 1,446 schools and colleges, and 9,268 madrasas.
Indigenous species such as mango, jackfruit, neem, blackberry and arjun trees will receive priority.
Officials said at least three saplings, including fruit-bearing and forest species, will be planted at every institution on inauguration day before the program expands in phases nationwide.
Project officials believe students can play a critical role in addressing climate change by becoming environmental stewards within their communities.
“Today’s students will inherit tomorrow’s climate challenges,” said LAISE Project Director Prof Md Asaduzzaman.
“By involving them directly in tree planting, we are creating awareness while also encouraging long-term responsibility toward the environment.”
The twin programs represent an attempt to tackle two major national priorities simultaneously: building a generation capable of driving innovation and preparing young Bangladeshis for a future increasingly shaped by climate change.
For the government, the goal is not simply to produce better exam results, but to cultivate problem-solvers, entrepreneurs and environmentally conscious citizens capable of leading the country through the challenges ahead.