Savar, Dhaka | 4 August 2026
PROTTYASHI’s youth and volunteer engagement platform, the Youth Volunteer Alliance (YVA), successfully organized Tiger Run 2026, a 5-kilometre mini marathon and awareness campaign, at Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, on 4 August 2026.
Organized under the theme “Promoting Youth Engagement for Tiger & Biodiversity Conservation,” the initiative brought together young runners, university students, volunteers, government representatives, academics, conservation stakeholders, civil society members and media representatives to raise awareness about the conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger, the protection of its habitat and the importance of safeguarding the Sundarbans and Bangladesh’s wider biodiversity.
Approximately 225 runners participated in the event, while the registration database recorded 227 registered participants, including 152 male and 75 female runners. The event was supported by 50 dedicated YVA volunteers, who played an important role in participant coordination, registration, logistics, venue management and overall event operations.
The event generated significant enthusiasm among young people. In addition to the registered participants, more than 20 runners joined the event without prior registration, while many others expressed interest in participating. The strong response demonstrated the potential of sports and volunteerism as effective platforms for engaging young people in environmental awareness and conservation action.
The event was attended by several distinguished guests and stakeholders, including Mr. Mohammed Aminul Haque, Honourable State Minister, Ministry of Youth and Sports; Professor Dr. Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University; representatives from the Bangladesh Forest Department, IUCN Bangladesh, Bangladesh Animal Welfare Association, and Jahangirnagar University.
Mrs. Monowara Begum, Executive Director of PROTTYASHI, also attended the event and appreciated the initiative and the active participation of young people. Her presence reflected PROTTYASHI’s continued commitment to promoting youth leadership, volunteerism and community-based environmental action.
The event also recognized outstanding runners across male and female categories. The awardees were:
Male Category
- Champion: Russell Mahmud
- 1st Runner-up: Keingpre Mro
- 2nd Runner-up: Mansur Ahmed
Female Category
- Champion: Shyamli Das
- 1st Runner-up: Puja Rani
- 2nd Runner-up: Sabikun Nahar
The winners received recognition crests and certificates during the post-run award ceremony.
Tiger Run 2026 also received significant media attention, with coverage from more than 10 media houses, helping extend the conservation message beyond the university campus.
Through this initiative, YVA demonstrated how sports can become a powerful tool for social awareness and environmental action. The event created a platform connecting youth, volunteerism, sports, conservation, government, academia, civil society and media around a shared message: protecting the Royal Bengal Tiger also means protecting its habitat, the Sundarbans, forests and Bangladesh’s biodiversity.
As a youth initiative of PROTTYASHI, the Youth Volunteer Alliance continues to create opportunities for young people to become active agents of positive change. Tiger Run 2026 marks another important step in strengthening youth engagement and volunteer-led action for a more sustainable and environmentally conscious Bangladesh.
