DHAKA, BANGLADESH – Bangladesh’s independent creative agency POP5 has claimed the highest honor — the Grand Prix at MAD STARS 2025, held in Busan, South Korea. Alongside this prestigious recognition, the agency also secured one Gold, one Silver, one Bronze, and two Crystal awards, marking a historic achievement for Bangladesh on the global creative stage.
Regarded as one of the world’s foremost international advertising festivals, MAD STARS celebrates creativity and innovation that champion meaningful causes. This year’s competition drew over 20,000 submissions from 63 countries, with POP5’s groundbreaking “Plot Farming” campaign emerging as a standout. The initiative won the Grand Prix in the Sustainable Cities category and a Gold in the No Poverty category, further underscoring its social and cultural impact.
Conceived for Shopnodhora Asset Development Ltd., a Bangladeshi real estate firm, “Plot Farming” reimagines unused urban land as a resource for community farming. By transforming abandoned plots into productive farmland, the project addresses food security, community development, and sustainable urban living. Families gain access to fresh produce while neighborhoods benefit from greener, more purposeful spaces in an inventive solution that demonstrates how creativity can drive systemic change.
POP5’s Creative Directors Md. Tauhidul Azam and Abdullah Rana attended the festival in Busan to personally receive the honors. Reflecting on the win, POP5’s Chief Creative Officer Akrum Hossain remarked “This achievement is not just POP5’s — it belongs to Bangladesh. Bangladeshi creative ideas now have the strength to compete globally, side by side with the very best. This is just the beginning, and we hope it inspires young creatives to dream even bigger.”
The recognition of “Plot Farming” at MAD STARS 2025 signals a turning point for Bangladesh’s creative industry. It highlights the nation’s emerging generation of talent, whose bold and impactful ideas are not only resonating on the world stage but are also shaping conversations around sustainability and social innovation.
