By Crista Castillo and Mahmudur Rahman
With our considerable geographic distance at the time of the meeting, with me being in Mexico and Mahmud in Bangladesh, my conversation with Mahmud began by chatting about the weather. He told me about the suitable, warm climate in Bangladesh, which is similar to the warm weather in Mexico, conditions we concluded to be very different from the extreme cold temperatures in Michigan, where I attend school, of which its temperatures incurred astonishment in both of us when talking about them. Mahmud is a Campus Representative for Project Green Challenge, and moving away from the topic of weather, he told me about his journey of contributing to and initiating climate action projects in his community.
Mahmud is a final-year undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Sciences at Jahangirnagar University. He was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He initially found his love for the environment at a young age as he got the opportunity to visit most of the rural areas of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a hidden gem tucked in South Asia’s heart, a country where nature speaks in whispers and wonders. Although it is naturally gifted, its capital Dhaka, where Mahmud currently lives, is one of the most polluted cities in the world. He was particularly concerned seeing the air quality there; as it was worsening every day—thanks to all the cars, factories, and construction work going on. Dhaka’s air quality ranks among the worst globally: PM 2.5 levels regularly exceed safe limits by more than eight times, harming respiratory and cardiovascular health. Bangladesh also faces extreme rainfall that often leads to dangerous flooding.
Just last year, on August 21, 2024, heavy rain combined with water released from a dam in India’s Tripura caused severe floods across 11 districts, affecting 73 upazilas and hundreds of communities. It was one of the worst floods in recent years, leaving homes underwater and farmlands destroyed in the affected areas. Coastal areas of Bangladesh face growing saltwater intrusion, which contaminates farms and freshwater supplies, while riverbank erosion continues to swallow land and displace communities each year. Another big problem for Bangladesh is the sea level rise, threatening to submerge nearly one-fifth of Bangladesh by 2050. Events like this remind Mahmud why protecting the environment is more important now than ever.
At Jahangirnagar University, Mahmud is an active member of Nature Conservation Initiative (NCI)—a non-profit student-led group dedicated to protecting campus ecosystems. Under NCI’s guidance, he along with other members help organize: an Annual Bird Security event that celebrates migratory birds that visit campus; yearly Butterfly Fairs that promote the ecological importance of even little insects like butterflies; a Tree-planting Program that preserves rich biodiversity and maintains the natural balance of the beautiful green campus while combating air pollution and enhancing the scenic beauty; Bird-house installations that ensures safe shelter for birds during migration and other challenging seasons; and Educational seminars that highlight climate change threats like extreme weather and biodiversity loss directly on campus.
At Jahangirnagar University Campus, Mahmud plans to promote the Project Green Challenge by organizing workshops and seminars with the help of his friends who are concerned about climate change and want to contribute to the betterment of the environment. For students outside of his campus, Mahmud will be reaching out to them through social media platforms.
Mahmud’s other big role towards the betterment of the environment is his Climate Action Project (CAP Project), which focuses on Replacing Shrimp Aquaculture Practices with Sustainable Solutions in the Coastal Region of Bangladesh. He had four months to complete his CAP project, and he got to work with local farmers, government officials, several environmentalists, and many more. He is really proud that his project truly impacted people’s lives and will continue to do so in the future. He listened to the farmers, supported women, and worked to protect the environment. Mahmud, together with a government official, had also created a farmers’ guidebook and started a separate market space for women in that area, both were big steps that gave real hope to the community in that area. Ultimately, Mahmud won the first runner-up place for his amazing project in the Project Green Challenge Finals 2024.
The people we are surrounded by, our culture, experiences, and residency provide a foundation from which our motivations and dedications grow. Mahmud and I grew up in different circumstances, but in meeting him, it was apparent that we shared a dedication to helping our community deal with climate challenges and a motivation that grows from experiencing and seeing the environmental challenges our communities are currently facing. Both of our journeys brought us to Turning Green’s Project Green Challenge, a project that motivates students globally, as it has motivated both of us. PGC’s global community of students connected Mahmud and me, and provided us with a space to comprehend how the pressing environmental challenges are being felt differently by each global community, from people who are experiencing it firsthand. Our journey with PGC thus far has allowed us to learn every day while advancing and strengthening our climate action journey.
Mahmud’s story is a reminder that meaningful change often begins with one voice, one step, and one act of care. Robert Swan once said, “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” Mahmud chose not to wait for someone else; his journey reflects the courage and responsibility we all need to embrace. His actions remind us that saving the planet starts with us – one idea, one voice, and one commitment at a time.
