The Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) highlights several outstanding projects by women architects whose work has recently received significant international recognition. Their achievements demonstrate the important role of Bangladeshi women architects in addressing social, environmental, and cultural challenges through innovative design.
Marina Tabassum, founder of Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA), received the 2025 Aga Khan Award for Architecture for Khudi Bari: An Architecture of Transition. The project proposes a movable, two-level housing solution designed for communities affected by flooding and riverbank erosion in Bangladesh. Built with locally available materials and designed to be easily assembled and relocated, the structures provide a resilient housing model for vulnerable populations. Developed through extensive community engagement, the initiative has expanded to include community facilities and women’s centres in areas affected by climate displacement.
Architect Saiqa Iqbal Meghna has gained international recognition for the Zebun Nessa Mosque in Ashulia, Dhaka. The project has received multiple honours, including being named among TIME’s World’s Greatest Places 2025, and recognition at the JK Architect of the Year Awards 2025. The mosque transforms a neglected industrial edge into a civic and spiritual space for garment workers, incorporating climate-responsive design, gardens, and water systems. It also stands out for its inclusive approach, providing dignified prayer spaces for women—an important step toward greater gender inclusion in religious architecture.
Sarawat Iqbal Tesha, of Roofliners_Studio of Architecture, was awarded Second Place in the Unbuilt Category at the 7th Baku International Architecture Award (2025) for the project Masjid Al Luqman. Located in Faridpur, the design proposes a mosque shaped by a single spiralling brick wall that guides visitors toward the prayer hall. The architecture emphasises contemplation and spirituality through the use of form, light, and material.
Architect Sanjida Shams was also recognised at the 7th Baku International Architecture Award (2025) for MAK Design House, receiving the award in the Best Implemented Interior category. The project transforms a windowless warehouse into a dynamic showroom for textile buyers, integrating lighting, circulation, and display systems to create an immersive environment that celebrates both contemporary design and traditional textile craftsmanship.
Together, these projects highlight the creativity and leadership of women architects in Bangladesh, whose work addresses issues ranging from climate resilience and social inclusion to cultural expression and innovative spatial design.
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