Dhaka: Two Bangladesh scientists have been awarded the ICT for Mountain Development Award 2015 for inventing their unique technologies to protect lives from natural disasters.

Bayes Ahmed from BUET-Japan Institute of Disaster Prevention and Urban Safety won the award in recognition of introducing early warning system for the communities living with landslide risks in Chittagong Metropolitan area, while hydrological modeler at Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) Raihanul Haque Khan was awarded for developing mobile services for early flood warning.

Two other scientists - Pranab Patar from Earthwatch Institute India and Saurav Dhakal of Nepal also own the ICT for Mountain Development

Award this year for their outstanding contributions for safeguarding mountain environment, according an ICIMOD media release.

On the occasion of the World Environment Day this year (June 5), the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge-sharing centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH), called for submissions for the annual ‘ICT for Mountain Development Award’.

The award recognises information, communication and technology (ICT)-enabled innovations, good practices, and applications that help promote mountain development and environmental conservation in the HKH region.

The awards were open to individuals or organisations that are making innovative use of ICT to promote mountain development in the HKH region.

A total of 18 submissions were received, mainly from countries in the HKH region, under five categories: ecosystem services, livelihood, water, geospatial solutions, and ‘others’. The submissions were made by individuals and organisations, including universities, government- and donor funded projects, private sector and INGOs.

Four submissions were selected based on the criteria outlined during

the call - the quality of content and creativity, innovative use of ICT, clear focus on use in the HKH region for mountain development, and impact on the ground. The winners each received US$ 250 along with a certificate of recognition.