A student team from Dhaka Residential Model College (DRMC) has made the nation proud by winning the Gold Medal (Champion) in the Innovative Social Science category at the 7th World Invention Competition & Exhibition (WICE) 2025 – Bangladesh National Round.
The award-winning project, titled “RiverGuard – Illegal Sand Mining Detection in Bangladeshi Rivers,” presents a low-cost technological solution to detect unauthorized underwater sand dredging – a growing environmental threat in many regions of Bangladesh.
The RiverGuard team, consisting of Aranya Abeer Khan Prapya (Team Leader), Tousif Ahnaf, and Sabrin Mahmud Ethan, is currently in Class 10 at DRMC. Their project stood out for its real-world applicability and innovative approach to addressing a pressing social and environmental issue.
By securing the top national honor, the team has earned the opportunity to represent Bangladesh in the international round of WICE 2025, set to take place in Malaysia.
“We’re thrilled that our work has been recognized on such a platform. Our mission is to use innovation to solve social problems, and this award reinforces our belief in that purpose,”
said team leader Aranya Abeer Khan Prapya.
WICE is a globally recognized event that brings together young innovators working on impactful ideas. RiverGuard’s recognition highlights the potential of youth-driven technology to address real-world challenges and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.
The RiverGuard team’s success is not just a victory for DRMC, but also a hopeful sign for the future of environmental innovation in Bangladesh.
