News Desk :
Global leaders, eminent personalities pay tributes, recall Dr Abed’s immense contribution to poverty alleviation
Condolences have poured in from all corners of the world after the death of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of the world’s largest non governmental organization (NGO) Brac passed away on Friday night.
Sir Abed, 83 passed away from cerebral cancer at Apollo Hospital.
His body will be taken to the Army Stadium in
Dhaka on Sunday, where the public will be able to pay their last respects from 10:30am to 12:30pm.
At 12:30pm, his janaza will be held at the same venue, after which he will be laid to rest at the Banani graveyard in Dhaka, Brac Executive Director Asif Saleh and Brac International Executive Director Dr Muhammad Musa confirmed.
Bangladesh president and prime minister in separate messages expressed deep shock at his death.
In his message, President Md Abdul Hamid said: “Through founding Brac, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed made immense contributions to the socioeconomic development of Bangladesh. The whole nation will remember him with respect for the work that he accomplished.”
Remembering Dr Abed’s tremendous contribution in nation building, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: “In 1971, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed travelled from England to different European countries in order to gain support, collect funds and form public opinion for our great War of Liberation. He worked for the rebuilding of the war-torn and newly independent Bangladesh. The demise of such a great humanitarian soul is an irreparable loss to our nation.”
In a message, Former US President Bill Clinton said Sir Fazle Abed’s life was a great gift to humanity.
“His nearly 50 years of visionary leadership at Brac transformed millions of lives in Bangladesh and beyond, and changed the way the world thinks about development. Driven by an unwavering belief in the inherent dignity of all people, he empowered those in extreme poverty to build better futures for themselves and their families,” he said.
“His legacy will live on in all the people whose lives are better, healthier and more secure because of his remarkable service,” he said.
Former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said: “The scale and impact of what he has done, and yet the utter humility with which he has done everything, is a lesson for every single one of us.”
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-founder Melinda Gates said: “In 1972, after Bangladesh’s War of Liberation had left many homeless, Fazle Abed left his job as a London oil executive and returned to his home country with £16,000 in his pocket – and the ambitious goal of building 10,400 houses.” He ended up raising enough money to build 16,000 houses for some of the poorest people in Bangladesh and still had enough left over to start his next project.
“That’s who Sir Fazle was as a humanitarian, and that’s what he helped us learn about development work: How to build a big, efficient organization, while never forgetting who you were doing it for. We are saddened to hear of his passing and will forever draw inspiration from his work, as will the rest of the world, which he left so much better than he found,” she said.
Remembering Sir Fazle for his inspiring leadership, Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore said: “Over the course of three decades, under Sir Fazle’s inspiring leadership, the humanitarian organization he founded, Brac, has become one of the world’s leading development organizations. From its humble beginnings in Bangladesh – the country he loved so well – to its expansion to 10 countries across Asia and Africa, Brac has stood as an inspiring example of how we can gather people together in common cause to improve the lives of the most vulnerable. All of us at Unicef will miss his ideas and advice.”
“We will never forget the example he set,” she said.
Nobel laureates in Economics in 2019, Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo said in their messag:, “How often do we see people like Sir Fazle Hasan Abed? His absence has left a great sense of loss in all of us.”
Former governor of Bangladesh Bank Atiur Rahman said Sir Fazle: “has been an icon of pro-poor non-state development initiatives in Bangladesh and as well as in many parts of the world.
“Today, I deeply remember many of those fond memories which I shared with him for decades. The world will certainly remember him as a great innovator of various low-cost development solutions for the disadvantaged, particularly the rural women. His leadership in promoting pro-poor education, health and finance has been simply unparalleled,” said Rahman who worked with Dr Abed closely both as a researcher and also as a regulator.
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said in their condolence message: “The CPD family gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Sir Fazle in lifting millions of people out of poverty and backwardness in Bangladesh, and in many other less developed countries. The visionary leader guided CPD since its establishment through his profound wisdom and beyond-the-box ideas.”
Expressing his deep condolence, eminent jurist Dr Kamal told that he will miss Sir Fazle Hasan Abed.
“Sir Fazle Hasab Abed used to identify problems of the country and worked to solve that. These things will be missed in future,” he said.
Dr Kamal said Dr Abed institutionalized several mega initiatives in his lifetime and no one can deny his role for betterment of people and country in these cases.
“Abed intensified human rights and economic growth of rural areas for the first time and he worked with these after the Liberation War in 1971,” he added.
Eminent academic, Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam who teaches at Brac University said: “He started an unconventional education system in grassroots level by bringing back dropouts into education system again which was a brilliant and unique idea.”
Shykh Seraj, noted development journalist and Head of news of Channel I, said that Dr Abed has been working to uphold Brac’s development initiatives for rural people for nearly four decades.
He said: “I found Brac everywhere, where ever I would go, even in very remote areas to hills, I would find Brac.”
He expressed his concern saying that it will be a great challenge for Brac to continue its role as a development organization after Sir Fazle Hasan Abed’s death.
Among the people mourning his death, condolences were poured in by former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Unicef Bangladesh representative Tomoo Hozumi, Ashoka founder and chief executive officer Bill Drayton, Pulitzer winner columnist Nicholas Kristof, DFID, DFAT, Save the Children UK chief executive Kevin Watkins, BOP Hub, World Toilet Organization founder Jack Sim, USA-based social worker Sayeeda Rashid, Toronto University professor Shahidul Islam, Major General (retired) Sahool Afzal, British Red Cross representative Sofeena Lalani, Bristol University researcher Zibah Nwako, Sajida Foundation, Jaago Foundation, Dr Chanchal Khan and Kamrul Murad.
At the age of 36, Sir Abed founded Brac, originally known as Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee and then Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, in 1972 as a temporary relief organization to help the country recover from the 1970 cyclone that killed about 500,000 people, and aftermath of the Liberation War in 1971.
Brac has grown into the world’s largest non-governmental organization, focused on alleviating poverty and estimated to have helped more than 150 million people out of poverty in Africa and Asia.
Sir Abed served as Brac executive director until 2001. At the age of 65, he retired and was elected as the chairperson of the Brac Bangladesh governing body.
Later, he was also elected as the chairperson of the Brac International Board.
He was honoured with numerous national and international awards including the Yidan Prize, Outstanding Member of the South Asian Diaspora Award in November, World Food Prize in 2015, Spanish Order of Civil Merit and Leo Tolstoy International Gold Medal in 2014, and WISE Prize for Education in 2011, among others.
He is the only Bangladeshi to be honoured with a knighthood by the British Crown. He was knighted in 2010.
Brac Bangladesh Chairperson Hossain Zillur Rahman said: “Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. Unparalleled sense of responsibility, a profound philosophy of life embedded in empathy, and tireless work – a personality whose memory will remain indelible and whose footsteps will show the path.”
“He (Dr Abed) succeeded in establishing the world’s largest development organization with a simple conviction that even a person in the most disadvantaged situation has the potential to change their fate. The organization now draws admiration from around the world. At this painful moment of departure, his warm smile still gives us the confidence that we must tread further ahead, holding on to his values of empathy, responsibility and labour,” he said.
A book of condolences in memory of Sir Fazle will be kept open from 2pm to 5pm at Brac Centre.
Books of condolences will be opened at Aarong outlets, Brac Bank offices and Brac University on Monday (December 23), said Brac.
Books of condolences will be opened at all Brac regional offices on Tuesday (December 24). All the condolences books will remain open from 10am to 5pm till 30 January (2020).
Global leaders, eminent personalities pay tributes, recall Dr Abed’s immense contribution to poverty alleviation
Condolences have poured in from all corners of the world after the death of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of the world’s largest non governmental organization (NGO) Brac passed away on Friday night.
Sir Abed, 83 passed away from cerebral cancer at Apollo Hospital.
His body will be taken to the Army Stadium in
Dhaka on Sunday, where the public will be able to pay their last respects from 10:30am to 12:30pm.
At 12:30pm, his janaza will be held at the same venue, after which he will be laid to rest at the Banani graveyard in Dhaka, Brac Executive Director Asif Saleh and Brac International Executive Director Dr Muhammad Musa confirmed.
Bangladesh president and prime minister in separate messages expressed deep shock at his death.
In his message, President Md Abdul Hamid said: “Through founding Brac, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed made immense contributions to the socioeconomic development of Bangladesh. The whole nation will remember him with respect for the work that he accomplished.”
Remembering Dr Abed’s tremendous contribution in nation building, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: “In 1971, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed travelled from England to different European countries in order to gain support, collect funds and form public opinion for our great War of Liberation. He worked for the rebuilding of the war-torn and newly independent Bangladesh. The demise of such a great humanitarian soul is an irreparable loss to our nation.”
In a message, Former US President Bill Clinton said Sir Fazle Abed’s life was a great gift to humanity.
“His nearly 50 years of visionary leadership at Brac transformed millions of lives in Bangladesh and beyond, and changed the way the world thinks about development. Driven by an unwavering belief in the inherent dignity of all people, he empowered those in extreme poverty to build better futures for themselves and their families,” he said.
“His legacy will live on in all the people whose lives are better, healthier and more secure because of his remarkable service,” he said.
Former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said: “The scale and impact of what he has done, and yet the utter humility with which he has done everything, is a lesson for every single one of us.”
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-founder Melinda Gates said: “In 1972, after Bangladesh’s War of Liberation had left many homeless, Fazle Abed left his job as a London oil executive and returned to his home country with £16,000 in his pocket – and the ambitious goal of building 10,400 houses.” He ended up raising enough money to build 16,000 houses for some of the poorest people in Bangladesh and still had enough left over to start his next project.
“That’s who Sir Fazle was as a humanitarian, and that’s what he helped us learn about development work: How to build a big, efficient organization, while never forgetting who you were doing it for. We are saddened to hear of his passing and will forever draw inspiration from his work, as will the rest of the world, which he left so much better than he found,” she said.
Remembering Sir Fazle for his inspiring leadership, Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore said: “Over the course of three decades, under Sir Fazle’s inspiring leadership, the humanitarian organization he founded, Brac, has become one of the world’s leading development organizations. From its humble beginnings in Bangladesh – the country he loved so well – to its expansion to 10 countries across Asia and Africa, Brac has stood as an inspiring example of how we can gather people together in common cause to improve the lives of the most vulnerable. All of us at Unicef will miss his ideas and advice.”
“We will never forget the example he set,” she said.
Nobel laureates in Economics in 2019, Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo said in their messag:, “How often do we see people like Sir Fazle Hasan Abed? His absence has left a great sense of loss in all of us.”
Former governor of Bangladesh Bank Atiur Rahman said Sir Fazle: “has been an icon of pro-poor non-state development initiatives in Bangladesh and as well as in many parts of the world.
“Today, I deeply remember many of those fond memories which I shared with him for decades. The world will certainly remember him as a great innovator of various low-cost development solutions for the disadvantaged, particularly the rural women. His leadership in promoting pro-poor education, health and finance has been simply unparalleled,” said Rahman who worked with Dr Abed closely both as a researcher and also as a regulator.
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said in their condolence message: “The CPD family gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Sir Fazle in lifting millions of people out of poverty and backwardness in Bangladesh, and in many other less developed countries. The visionary leader guided CPD since its establishment through his profound wisdom and beyond-the-box ideas.”
Expressing his deep condolence, eminent jurist Dr Kamal told that he will miss Sir Fazle Hasan Abed.
“Sir Fazle Hasab Abed used to identify problems of the country and worked to solve that. These things will be missed in future,” he said.
Dr Kamal said Dr Abed institutionalized several mega initiatives in his lifetime and no one can deny his role for betterment of people and country in these cases.
“Abed intensified human rights and economic growth of rural areas for the first time and he worked with these after the Liberation War in 1971,” he added.
Eminent academic, Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam who teaches at Brac University said: “He started an unconventional education system in grassroots level by bringing back dropouts into education system again which was a brilliant and unique idea.”
Shykh Seraj, noted development journalist and Head of news of Channel I, said that Dr Abed has been working to uphold Brac’s development initiatives for rural people for nearly four decades.
He said: “I found Brac everywhere, where ever I would go, even in very remote areas to hills, I would find Brac.”
He expressed his concern saying that it will be a great challenge for Brac to continue its role as a development organization after Sir Fazle Hasan Abed’s death.
Among the people mourning his death, condolences were poured in by former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Unicef Bangladesh representative Tomoo Hozumi, Ashoka founder and chief executive officer Bill Drayton, Pulitzer winner columnist Nicholas Kristof, DFID, DFAT, Save the Children UK chief executive Kevin Watkins, BOP Hub, World Toilet Organization founder Jack Sim, USA-based social worker Sayeeda Rashid, Toronto University professor Shahidul Islam, Major General (retired) Sahool Afzal, British Red Cross representative Sofeena Lalani, Bristol University researcher Zibah Nwako, Sajida Foundation, Jaago Foundation, Dr Chanchal Khan and Kamrul Murad.
At the age of 36, Sir Abed founded Brac, originally known as Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee and then Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, in 1972 as a temporary relief organization to help the country recover from the 1970 cyclone that killed about 500,000 people, and aftermath of the Liberation War in 1971.
Brac has grown into the world’s largest non-governmental organization, focused on alleviating poverty and estimated to have helped more than 150 million people out of poverty in Africa and Asia.
Sir Abed served as Brac executive director until 2001. At the age of 65, he retired and was elected as the chairperson of the Brac Bangladesh governing body.
Later, he was also elected as the chairperson of the Brac International Board.
He was honoured with numerous national and international awards including the Yidan Prize, Outstanding Member of the South Asian Diaspora Award in November, World Food Prize in 2015, Spanish Order of Civil Merit and Leo Tolstoy International Gold Medal in 2014, and WISE Prize for Education in 2011, among others.
He is the only Bangladeshi to be honoured with a knighthood by the British Crown. He was knighted in 2010.
Brac Bangladesh Chairperson Hossain Zillur Rahman said: “Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. Unparalleled sense of responsibility, a profound philosophy of life embedded in empathy, and tireless work – a personality whose memory will remain indelible and whose footsteps will show the path.”
“He (Dr Abed) succeeded in establishing the world’s largest development organization with a simple conviction that even a person in the most disadvantaged situation has the potential to change their fate. The organization now draws admiration from around the world. At this painful moment of departure, his warm smile still gives us the confidence that we must tread further ahead, holding on to his values of empathy, responsibility and labour,” he said.
A book of condolences in memory of Sir Fazle will be kept open from 2pm to 5pm at Brac Centre.
Books of condolences will be opened at Aarong outlets, Brac Bank offices and Brac University on Monday (December 23), said Brac.
Books of condolences will be opened at all Brac regional offices on Tuesday (December 24). All the condolences books will remain open from 10am to 5pm till 30 January (2020).
