Abu Dhabi, 16 January 2023:

Today (16 January), Bangladesh won two prizes in two categories (out of six) of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, 'Water' and 'Global High Schools'.

An integrated water resource management approach in disaster-prone coastal area by the NGO named Local Environment Development and Agricultural Research Society (LEDARS) working in Sundarban Areas and Satkhira won the prize in 'Water' category and the prize money is USD 600,000.00. Established in 1996, LEADERS have been supporting vulnerable communities with water management solutions to make saline ground water suitable for drinking and cultivating crops.

On the other hand, Dhaka Residential Model Collage working on nutrient conservation awarded the other prize with prize money of USD 100,000.00. They won the prize from South Asia region beating two other shortlisted contenders, one from Bangladesh and the other from Nepal.

UAE president Sheik Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan handed over the prizes to the winners at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week opening ceremony in presence of several Heads of States & Governments including the president of the Republic of Korea. Ambassador of Bangladesh to the UAE Mr. Abu Zafar was present at the prize giving ceremony and congratulated the winners and commended their innovative works that raised the flag of Bangladesh very high in this global event.

Mentionable that the Zayed Sustainability Prize, an evolution of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, is the UAE’s pioneering global award in sustainability and a tribute to the legacy of the late founding father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Established in 2008, this annual award recognizes and rewards the achievements of those who are driving impactful, innovative and inspiring sustainability solutions across five distinct categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water and Global High Schools.