Aiming to create opportunities for Bangladeshi women to represent the country on global platforms, the ‘Miss Bangladesh Impact Forum 2025’ was officially launched on Tuesday at Le Méridien Dhaka.
The announcement came from Meghna Alam, Miss Earth Bangladesh 2020 and Chairperson of the Miss Bangladesh Foundation, who inaugurated the event highlighting its expanded scope from a beauty pageant to a global diplomatic and leadership platform.
At the launching ceremony, it was announced that Bangladeshi women aged between 18 and 26 — who are unmarried, responsible citizens, environmentally conscious, and culturally aware — will be eligible to apply for the competition starting July 17 via www.missbangladesh.com.
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Following an initial selection process, 100 shortlisted participants will be invited to audition on September 26 at Le Méridien Dhaka. From them, 20 finalists will be selected for a month-long fellowship programme, where they will work on creating impactful stories using plastic and waste materials as part of their advocacy.
The fellowship includes training in pageantry, advocacy speech, entrepreneurship, reproductive and mental health, and fitness. The final winner will be crowned ‘Miss Bangladesh Earth’ and will represent Bangladesh at the 25th Miss Earth pageant in the Philippines, which focuses on environmental justice and sustainable development.
Last year, through the ‘Miss Bangladesh Beauty Pageant 2024’, 10 Bangladeshi women had the opportunity to represent the country in various international competitions across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The initiative culminated in the national winner participating in the Miss Earth competition, associated with the United Nations and global climate justice movements.
Speakers at the event shared their personal experiences on overcoming societal pressures and promoting women’s visibility in leadership. Among the attendees were Dr Tasin Afrin Diana, SDG Coordinator of Miss Bangladesh Foundation; Tahreen Zerin, international legal advisor; Alisha Pradhan, CEO of HerNet TV; Dr Nasreen Siraj Anny, Assistant Professor at BRAC University; Konstantinos S Gabriel, GM of Le Méridien Dhaka; renowned singer Mehreen; Neela Israfil, NCP political leader; and Katerina Don, Co-Founder and Creative Director of CholPori and Curator at HerStory Foundation and Publications.
Addressing the gathering, Meghna Alam said, “This forum is a response to silence, stigma, and barriers. We are uniting the nation, preserving the environment, and nurturing leadership."
"Bangladesh doesn’t seek sympathy — it demands respect and partnership. What we seek is solidarity through this initiative,” Meghna Alam added.
The forum’s programme includes press conferences to present participants as influential social ambassadors, dialogues on climate change, gender equality and youth leadership, and recognition of participants, journalists, NGOs and diplomats. It will also facilitate diplomatic dialogues with UN agencies and embassies.
Notably, the Miss Bangladesh Impact Forum is positioning itself as Asia’s first SDG-linked, climate-focused, pageantry-based leadership model, focusing on SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 17 (Global Partnerships).