The architects Ehsan Khan, Iqbal Habib, Ishtiaque Zahir, Shuvojit Chowdhury and Shoed-Al-Rahe of the firm Vitti Sthapati Brindo Ltd received a cheque for Tk 1,00,000 and crests for the winning design.

The first and second runners-up Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury and Marina Tabassum received a cheque for Tk 60,000 and Tk 40,000 respectively.

Nishorgo Support Project, funded by USAID, organised the award giving ceremony at National Museum auditorium in the city.

State Minister for Environment and Forest Jafrul Islam Chowdhury handed over the cheques to the winners.

Speaking as the chief guest, the minister urged all to come forward for preserving the country's remaining forest with a view to saving the environment.

The government has taken many initiatives for conservation of the forests and Nishorgo project is one of them, he said.

Lauding the competition, he said this kind of ceremony would inspire the young architects and the country people as well.

Speaking as a special guest, United Sates Embassy Charge d' affaires Gene V George said the competition would raise awareness among the young architects, university students and the people about the remaining forest of the country.

He also said by assisting the Nishorgo project, USAID is also supporting Bangladesh in reducing poverty.

Osman Gani, chief conservator of forests and Tariq-ul-Islam, joint secretary of ministry of environment and forest also spoke at the occasion.

A short film titled 'A nimble walk through Nishorgo' by Enam ul Haque was also screened at the ceremony.

The organisers said the Forest Department launched Nishorgo Support Project to save the natural forest and heritage.

Nishorgo arranged this architectural design competition to facilitate eco-tourism at protected areas that support conservation under the Forest Department's Protected Forest Area Management, they said adding that USAID is funding the Nishorgo programme through the Nishorgo Support Project and the primary objective of the Nishorgo programme is to conserve biodiversity within the protected area of Bangladesh, they added.

The winning design will be built at Lawachara National Park and will later be adopted for other protected forest areas.