Five Bangladeshi Students Selected for International Climate Olympiad 2026 in Russia

Five Bangladeshi students have been selected to represent the country at the International Olympiad on Climate Change and Environmental Issues (IOCE) 2026 in Sirius, Russia, after progressing through a nationwide selection programme involving more than 4,000 students.

The five-member team was selected through the Bangladesh Olympiad on Climate Change and Environmental Issues (BOCE) 2026, organised by the Sustainability and Life Sciences Network (SLSN) and Zero Competitions. BOCE serves as Bangladesh's national selection route for the international competition.

Five students selected for Team Bangladesh

The students chosen to represent Bangladesh are:

• Abu Mahzoorah Aymaan
• Fabiha Nurjina
• Ismah Aroush
• S M Anfal Habib
• Kamrun Nahar Megha

The selection followed several stages of competition and academic preparation.

The preliminary round of BOCE was held nationwide on July 17, 2026. Regional rounds were subsequently organised in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Sylhet, alongside an online e-Regional Round. Around 1,000 students took part at the regional stage, with the top 300 advancing to the national round at Curzon Hall, University of Dhaka, on August 21.

Following the national competition, 40 students took part in a preparation camp covering areas including ecology, biodiversity, environmental chemistry, climate science, Earth system science and disaster management.

A final team selection test was held at the Russian House in Dhaka on August 27. The assessment focused on scientific knowledge, analytical ability, data interpretation and problem-solving.

University of Dhaka and Russian House representatives attend The national round brought together representatives from the University of Dhaka and the Russian House in Dhaka.

Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Dhaka, attended the event as chief guest. Alexandra Khlevnoy, Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, and Md. Delwar Hossain, Senior Coordinator of Educational Projects, were also present.

Dr. Kazi Matin Uddin Ahmed, Professor of Geology at the University of Dhaka, served as academic adviser.

Bangladesh team to compete in Sirius
The delegation will be led by Taseen Mohammad and Ahnaf Tahmid Uddin as team leaders, while Ferdous Ahmed will serve as an observer.

The international olympiad is scheduled to take place in the Sirius Federal Territory of Russia from September 20 to 29, 2026. According to the official IOCE website, the competition includes theoretical and practical components addressing climate change and environmental issues.

The international event is designed as an interdisciplinary scientific competition focusing on environmental issues, climate change and solutions to related challenges. The organisers say the programme aims to improve environmental literacy, develop scientific and creative skills among young people, and encourage international cooperation on environmental protection.

For Bangladesh, the BOCE programme also provides a national platform for students interested in climate science, biodiversity, water systems and environmental policy to develop their knowledge and compete for international representation.