BRAC announcement re: Sir Fazle Hasan Abed
Donella Rapier Unsubscribe
5:08 PM (2 hours ago)
to me
brac
Creating Opportunities
Empowering people living in poverty
around the world
Dear Peter,
I am deeply saddened to share with you that Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC, has passed away.
An icon of international development and pivotal figure in Bangladesh, Sir Fazle pioneered innovations in the sector that changed the course of a country. His belief in the dignity and value of every human being, even the poorest, was visionary when he founded BRAC in 1972.
From the earliest days of BRAC, when he focused on functional literacy in adults, to today’s emphasis on the ultra-poor and the social enterprise model, Sir Fazle’s storied career belied a famously dogged work ethic, keen eye for detail, and data-driven approach to development. There is perhaps no better realization of this philosophy than his wildly successful efforts to reduce child mortality through a simple solution: a pinch of salt, a handful of sugar, and a liter of clean water.
The work of BRAC was his joy, and Sir Fazle was passionate about it to the very end. This summer, after overseeing the expansion of BRAC into Rwanda, our newest country of operations, he decided to retire from his longstanding role as Chairperson. Yet, even then, he pushed us all to further our reach, to increase our impact. He told us:
“Change is also possible through human acts of compassion, courage and conviction. I have spent my life watching optimism triumph over despair when the light of self-belief is sparked in people. As a team, I want us to keep lighting these sparks.”
While our hearts are broken, our pain may be assuaged by the knowledge that his remarkable legacy persists in the hundreds of millions of people around the world whose lives he bettered. And Sir Fazle would not wish us to lament his loss too long. Better to roll up our sleeves and get back to work.
His talented and devoted children, Tamara and Shameran, will continue to direct some of BRAC’s most impactful areas of work, while Asif Saleh will lead the organization in Bangladesh. Across our 10 other countries of operation, Dr. Muhammad Musa will oversee Sir Fazle’s commitment to enable millions more to escape the trap of poverty. Sir Fazle has bequeathed to us a tremendous legacy. We are united in our zealous dedication to his life’s work.
And what a life it has been. Despite his many achievements and accolades, Sir Fazle always insisted that it was the poor and marginalized who deserved the real credit for ending poverty. BRAC's only role was to create the enabling conditions for them to do so.
Sir Fazle kept a special place in his heart for the Bengali poet and polymath Rabindranath Tagore. In the days to come, as we celebrate the life of Sir Fazle, I will find solace in one of Tagore’s more memorable notes.
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
Please visit the link below to learn more about Sir Fazle’s life and share your remembrances.
REMEMBERING SIR FAZLE
You can also share your thoughts and memories by sending an email to rememberingsirfazle@brac.net.
Contributions in memory of Sir Fazle's legacy can be made at this dedicated page.
Sincerely,
Donella Rapier
Donella Rapier
President & CEO, BRAC USA
Biography
Sir Fazle was born in 1936 in Bangladesh. He studied Accountancy in London, qualifying as a Cost Management Accountant in 1962. While he was working as a senior corporate executive at Pakistan Shell, the 1970 cyclone and 1971 Liberation War in Bangladesh dramatically changed the direction of his life. He left his job and moved to London, where he helped initiate Action Bangladesh and HELP Bangladesh in support of the Liberation War.
Early in 1972, after the war was over, he returned to the newly-independent Bangladesh, finding the economy in ruins. The return of 10 million refugees, who had sought shelter in India during the war, called for urgent relief and rehabilitation efforts. Sir Fazle established BRAC to address the needs of refugees in a remote area of north-eastern Bangladesh, guided by a desire to help the poor develop their own capacity to better manage their lives.
Today BRAC is one of the largest NGOs in the world, operating across eleven countries in Africa and Asia. Its primary objectives are to alleviate poverty and empower the poor. In 2018, for the third consecutive year, BRAC was ranked first among the world's top 500 NGOs by Geneva-based 'NGO Advisor' in terms of impact, innovation and sustainability.
Sir Fazle has been honoured with numerous national and international awards for his achievements in leading BRAC, including the LEGO Prize (2018), Laudato Si' Award (2017), Jose Edgardo Campos Collaborative Leadership Award, South Asia Region (2016), Thomas Francis, Jr. Medal in Global Public Health (2016), World Food Prize (2015), Trust Women Hero Award (2014), Spanish Order of Civil Merit (2014), Leo Tolstoy International Gold Medal (2014), CEU Open Society Prize (2013), Inaugural WISE Prize for Education (2011), Entrepreneur for the World Award (2009), David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2008), Inaugural Clinton Global Citizen Award (2007), Henry R. Kravis Prize in Leadership (2007), Palli Karma Shahayak Foundation (PKSF) Award for lifetime achievement in social development and poverty alleviation (2007), UNDP Mahbubul Haq Award for Outstanding Contribution to Human Development (2004), Gates Award for Global Health (2004), Gleitsman Foundation International Activist Award (2003), Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneurship Award (2003), Olof Palme Prize (2001), InterAction Humanitarian Award (1998) and Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership (1980).
He is also recognised by Ashoka as one of the 'global greats' and is a founding member of its prestigious Global Academy for Social Entrepreneurship. In 2009, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George by the British Crown in recognition of his services to reducing poverty in Bangladesh and internationally. Sir Fazle was a member of the Group of Eminent Persons appointed by the UN Secretary-General in 2010 to advise on support for the Least Developed Countries. In both 2014 and 2017, he was named in Fortune Magazine’s List of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.
The many honorary degrees received by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed include those from Princeton University (2014), the University of Oxford (2009), Columbia University (2008) and Yale University (2007).
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