Innovation Competition for Disability-Inclusive Sanitary Products: Winners Awarded on Menstrual Hygiene Day
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Winners have been awarded for innovating disability-inclusive safe and affordable sanitary products at a prize-giving ceremony marking Menstrual Hygiene Day 2025 in Dhaka city.
The event took place on Wednesday morning at the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation auditorium in Agargaon. It followed a nationwide innovation competition organised by B-SCAN, with support from WaterAid Bangladesh, Kimberly-Clark, and the MHM Platform, according to a press release.
The top prize of ৳3,00,000 was awarded to the team InnovAid, led by Samia Kabir, along with members Umme Sarwar Jahan Shasha, Jannatul Ferdous Mom, and Afsarah Ismat Fatima.
The first runner-up, Shimuv, led by Somorpita Saha Chhoa, received ৳1,50,000. Team members included Md Shahid Ahmed, Srishti Hazra, and Monija Rahman Smoronika.
The second runner-up, Pari, led by Kamrun Nahar Ritu, won ৳75,000, with team members Pushpita Chowdhury, Kazi Arafat Ul Islam, and Ibniu Ahmed.
Partha Hefaz Sheikh, Director of Programmes and Policy Advocacy at WaterAid Bangladesh, urged the patenting of the winning innovations and pledged seed funding support.
Dr Sohel Habib, Line Director (NCRH) at the Directorate General of Family Planning; Naima Hossain, Director (Joint Secretary) at the Department of Women Affairs; Md Saidur Rahman Khan, Director General of the Department of Social Services; and Md Mahfuzur Rahman Rakib, Associate Coordinator at B-SCAN, also spoke at the event.
The programme was moderated by Salma Mahbub, General Secretary of B-SCAN.
Fayazuddin Ahmed, Advocate and Policy and Advocacy Lead at WaterAid Bangladesh, delivered the closing remarks.