COMMWARD 2025 honours 134 standout campaigns

A total of 134 creative campaigns and advertisements were recognised across 32 categories at the 14th edition of COMMWARD: Excellence in Creative Communication.

The event was presented by SMC Enterprise Limited and powered by Walton Group. The gala was held at Le Méridien Dhaka. It celebrated the year's most notable creative work under the initiative of Bangladesh Brand Forum.

Two campaigns won the Grand Prix. Eight Gold, 39 Silver and 85 Bronze awards were also given.

This year's competition received 1,411 nominations from 87 creative agencies, brands and organisations. Eligible campaigns included work on traditional and digital platforms. All campaigns had to be active between June 1, 2024, and August 15, 2025.

Opening the gala, Shariful Islam, Founder and Managing Director of Bangladesh Brand Forum, said the country's creative communication sector continues to adapt and innovate. He said the industry is producing work that connects strongly with audiences.

The award used a two-tier jury process. A total of 250 jurors took part. Ten shortlisting juries selected the leading entries. Ten Grand Jury panels chose the final awards.

Six new categories were added this year. These are B2B, Best Unpublished Work, Campaign for Positivity, Creative Business Transformation, Long Term Brand Platform and Luxury.

Grameen Danone Foods Limited and Backpage PR won Bronze in the Campaign for Sustainability category for Women at the Centre of Sustainability. The campaign features the Grameen Milk for School Program and the Shokti Doi Cup Recycling Project. It highlights the role of rural women dairy farmers and women in waste management in building a circular economy in Ullapara, Sirajganj.

The 'Reza Ali Independent Spirit Award' was also announced. FCB Bitopi received the recognition for Domex Bangladesh's campaign "Nak Diye Dekhun". The award honours the legacy of the late Reza Ali, a pioneer of Bangladesh's advertising industry.

Two industry leaders received the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award. They are Muneer Ahmed Khan, Managing Director and Creative Chief of Unitrend Limited, and Zulfiqar Ahmed, Director of Unitrend Limited. Their contributions have shaped the country's advertising sector.

Commward, introduced in 2009, is now a leading creative platform in Bangladesh. It promotes strategic creativity, purposeful communication and cultural storytelling. The 14th edition reinforced its role in encouraging campaigns that set new benchmarks for the industry.

Earlier in the day, the 14th Communication Summit took place at the same venue. Marketing, branding, advertising and creative communication professionals joined the sessions. The theme was "Chaos, Culture & Creativity: Reimagining the Communication Canvas". The discussions explored how cultural shifts, consumer expectations and digital fragmentation are changing the industry.

Communication Summit and Commward 2025 are presented by SMC Enterprise Limited and powered by Walton Group. Partners include Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, International Advertising Association Bangladesh, Asia Marketing Federation, BBF CMO Club, Marketing Society of Bangladesh, Le Méridien Dhaka, Backpage PR and Turkish Airlines. Both events are initiatives of Bangladesh Brand Forum.