Press Release
Dhaka, June 27, 2026: The curtain came down successfully on the final round of the Idea Contest 2026 on renewable energy today in Savar, with the participation of university students from across the country. Organized by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), the contest sought innovative ideas from young people to promote renewable energy and help achieve Bangladesh’s goal of generating 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2050.“Team Roddur” from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) emerged as the champion, while “Shasthyashakti” from the University of Dhaka secured the first runner-up position, and “SolarCluster” from Bangladesh Agricultural University became the second runner-up.
Promoting youth engagement and raising awareness about Bangladesh’s transition to renewable energy - including ensuring policy clarity, setting concrete targets, assessing implementation prospects, and addressing the various challenges associated with renewable energy production and use - is one of TIB's priority areas. As part of its project, “Promoting Good Governance and Integrity in the Energy Sector in Bangladesh,” TIB organized the Idea Contest to seek innovative proposals from young people to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy. More than 300 ideas were submitted by teams of university students from across the country. In the first phase, 30 teams were shortlisted, and 10 teams advanced to the final round. The final competition took place over three days, from June 25 to June 27, 2026.
At the closing ceremony, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman handed over the awards to the winners. Speaking at the event, he said, “Not only the ten teams that reached the final round, but everyone who came forward with innovative ideas is a winner. We have witnessed throughout our history that young people have led every positive transformation in the country. TIB believes that, in the same spirit, Bangladesh’s journey toward energy self-reliance through a complete transition to renewable energy will be guided by the vision and leadership of its young generation.”
The championship-winning innovation, Roddur AI, developed by Team Roddur members Md. Miraj Hossain Mahin and Meherab Hossain Opi, will enable users to assess the feasibility of installing solar energy systems anywhere in Bangladesh free of charge using artificial intelligence. Representing the first runner-up team, Shastho Shakti, Tanzim Maliyat and Asfin Jannat Shamsi presented a proposal to transform community clinics in flood-prone rural areas into hybrid renewable energy-powered emergency healthcare centres. The second runner-up team, Solarcluster, represented by Bangladesh Agricultural University student Md. Nasimuzzaman Sabbir, proposed a sustainable model for providing clean and affordable electricity by establishing community-owned solar mini-grids for shrimp farming clusters in the coastal district of Satkhira. The champion team received BDT 150,000, the first runner-up team received BDT 100,000, and the second runner-up team received BDT 75,000, along with trophies.
The closing ceremony was also attended by Munir Uddin Shamim, Director (Program), Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Bangladesh; Mehreen Ahmed Mahbub, Senior External Affairs Officer at the World Bank; Ratan Kumar Ghosh, Member and Joint Secretary, and Abdullah Al Mamun, Assistant Director of the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA); Mehadi Hasan Shamim, Research Associate at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Mohammad Tauhidul Islam, Director of Outreach and Communication at TIB; and Md Newazul Moula, Coordinator of TIB’s Energy Governance Division.
Media Contact:
Mohammad Tauhidul Islam
Director, Outreach and Communication
Phone: +8801713107868
Email: tauhidul@ti-bangladesh.org
