Renowned water resources expert Dr Ainun Nishat has said climate change is a key factor behind the increasing natural disasters in the country’s haor region.
“Understanding the natural environment and raising awareness for disaster preparedness are essential to mitigate such challenges,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at the final round of “Haor Hackathon 2026: Innovation in Climate Action,” held at the Grand Sylhet Hotel and Resort on Wednesday. The event was organized by the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) of BRAC University.
Dr Ainun Nishat further said that addressing the challenges faced by communities in the haor region requires greater research into the region’s history, heritage, and ecosystem. He called on the general public, students, and young people to take an active role in research and initiatives related to haor areas.
The daylong hackathon featured 12 teams of young innovators from the Sylhet region. The participants presented innovative ideas aimed at addressing climate change impacts, environmental challenges, and local problems affecting the haor communities. At the end of the competition, three teams were declared winners for their innovative solutions.
The hackathon was organized under the “Nabapallab” project, funded by the UK government. Twelve shortlisted teams from Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Sunamganj presented their projects before a panel of judges in the final round. Each team was given seven minutes to present their idea and three minutes to answer questions from the judges.
Several of the proposed projects focused on tackling flash floods in the haor region, improving weather forecasting, protecting fisheries and agricultural resources, and using modern technologies to enhance the livelihoods of local communities. Participants demonstrated how innovative approaches could help reduce the impacts of climate change in the region.
Following the presentations, the judging panel selected the top three teams based on their evaluation and analysis. Organizers also noted that the innovative ideas generated during the hackathon could later be incorporated into the Nabapallab project.
The event began with a welcome address by Raufa Khanam, Deputy Director of C3ER at BRAC University. Mrityunjoy Das, Deputy Director of CARE Bangladesh and Deputy Chief of Party of the project, presented the background and significance of the Nabapallab initiative. Ishtiaq Ibne Rauf, Senior Research Associate at C3ER, outlined the hackathon’s process and technical aspects.