Mohammad Rezwan

Bangladeshi social entrepreneur providing solar-powered education and healthcare in flood-prone regions

Mohammad Rezwan is the founder of Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, an NGO revolutionizing rural development in Bangladesh's flood-prone regions. Since 1998, his organization has deployed over 200 solar-powered boats that serve as floating schools, libraries, and health clinics. These vessels provide critical services to 90,000+ families in areas where 30% of land becomes submerged annually during monsoons.

Rezwan's innovative model combines renewable energy with education: each boat houses a digital classroom with solar-powered computers, while solar irrigation systems help farmers grow crops during floods. The initiative has reduced school dropout rates by 60% in target areas and inspired similar projects in Vietnam and Cambodia.

A graduate of MIT's urban planning program, Rezwan's work earned him the 2015 Ramon Magsaysay Award and a Legatum Prize for entrepreneurial change. His TED Talk "How solar boats bring education to flooded villages" highlights community-driven solutions to climate challenges.