Students of Asian University for Women brought together entrepreneurship, creativity and environmental awareness at a daylong event titled Voices for the Planet 2026 on Wednesday (15 April).

Held at TaleSpace on the university’s Mahsa Amini Campus in Chattogram, the programme was organised by the Green Bangle Project in collaboration with the AUW Student Government and the Environmental Sciences Club, according to a press release.

The event featured an eco-preneurship competition, a book launch and discussion, a climate-themed comedy segment, and a prize-giving ceremony, reflecting a student-led effort to engage with environmental challenges through diverse and creative formats.

Innovation for sustainability

The eco-preneurship segment showcased a range of business ideas focused on sustainability and waste reduction. A student team behind EcoPack secured the top position, followed by GrowNotes, a concept based on plantable paper, and Go Girls!, a project promoting environmentally responsible practices.

Participants also presented initiatives such as recycled denim products, incense sticks made from discarded flowers, and household items repurposed from plastic waste, highlighting practical approaches to sustainable consumption.

Literature and environmental reflection

A key highlight of the programme was a book launch and discussion session exploring the intersections of literature, history and the environment. The session featured works by faculty members, including Reclaiming Forgotten Narratives by Sangita Rayamajhi and Writing Zoological Natural History for British India by John Mathew.

The discussion encouraged participants to reflect on overlooked historical narratives and their environmental contexts, linking academic inquiry with contemporary sustainability concerns.

Climate issues through humour

The programme later shifted tone with a climate comedy segment organised in collaboration with Inside the Greenhouse and the University of Colorado.

Through satire, storytelling and humour, students explored complex climate issues, drawing on everyday experiences to make topics such as overconsumption, policy gaps and climate anxiety more accessible.

Performances included parodies of classroom discussions, fictional dialogues between humans and nature, and humorous takes on so-called eco-friendly trends. The segment used humour as a tool for reflection, engaging audiences both emotionally and intellectually.

A platform for student-led action

The event concluded with awards for top performances in the comedy segment, alongside recognition for participants across categories.

Organisers said the initiative aimed to create a platform for students to engage with environmental challenges through entrepreneurship, critical dialogue and creative expression, reinforcing the university’s focus on sustainability and student-led action.

The programme was supported by academics, industry representatives and development practitioners, and coordinated by student volunteers under faculty supervision as part of the Green Bangle Project.