Friendship, one of Bangladesh’s leading social development organizations, has been awarded the Earthshot Prize 2025, the world’s most prestigious environmental award, in recognition of its success in combating climate change across vulnerable communities.
To mark the achievement, the organization hosted an “Experience and Exchange with the Media” event in Dhaka’s Gulshan, where senior journalists from national and international outlets gathered to learn more about Friendship’s work and the impact of the award.
Speaking at the event, Friendship founder Runa Khan said the award was not only a milestone for the organization but also a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of Bangladesh’s marginalized communities.
“Receiving the Earthshot Prize is a great honor for us,” she said.
“This recognition amplifies the strength, resilience and innovation of climate-vulnerable communities in Bangladesh on the global stage. It also strengthens our responsibility to them. We will continue to expand our work to confront the growing threats of climate change.”
Runa highlighted Friendship’s Integrated Climate Adaptation Model, which played a central role in securing the award in the Fix Our Climate category.
Officials noted that Friendship’s climate adaptation initiatives are expected to expand further next year as a result of the recognition.
The organization operates around four core commitments — saving lives, poverty alleviation, climate adaptation and capacity building — implemented through six program areas: health, education, climate adaptation, good governance, sustainable economic development, and cultural preservation.
The event was attended by Salahuddin Ahmed, chairman of the Bangladesh Board of Friendship, along with senior directors and officials of the organization.
Friendship was shortlisted as a finalist for the 2025 Earthshot Prize on October 5 by the UK-based Earthshot Foundation.
On November 6, the foundation announced the organization as the winner of the Fix Our Climate category.
The award was presented to Runa Khan at a grand ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where global leaders, innovators and environmental advocates gathered to honor this year’s recipients.
