UNOPS and RAJUK award winners of low-carbon urban design competition for greener Dhaka

UNOPS, RAJUK, and partners announced the winners of the Carbon Conscious Urban Design Idea Competition 2026 on June 25. The contest invited university students across Bangladesh to propose climate-responsive public spaces using low-carbon materials, water-sensitive design, and ecological restoration. The first prize went to CUET's Team BURN / BREATH for a waterfront transformation project called The Receding Membrane. A total of 36 proposals from 12 universities were judged by national and international experts. The competition is part of a broader project funded by the German government to shift Bangladesh's built environment toward lower emissions and resource efficiency. Winning teams shared prize money of BDT 10 lakh. Special awards covered low-carbon public space, climate resilience, and inclusive design. The organizers said the ideas will feed into ongoing sustainable urban development efforts in Dhaka and beyond.