Sir Fazle Hasan Abed passes away

His body will be kept at army stadium on December 22 from 10:00am to 12:30pm so that people can pay their last respect to the departed soul, Saleh said.

Later, his namaz-e-janaza will be held there and he will be laid to eternal rest at Banani graveyard, the Brac official said.

He left behind his wife, a son and a host of relatives, well-wishers and admirers to mourn his death.

Soon after the information of the demise of this visionary, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam in a condolence message, expressed deep shock and extended sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Remembering Sir Abed’s contribution in alleviating the country’s poverty and its socioeconomic development, Mayor Atiqul Islam said his death is an irreparable loss to the country.

Atiqul also sought eternal peace for the departed soul.

Sir Fazle founded Brac in 1972, at the age of 36, and served as its executive director until 2001.

At 65, he retired as executive director and was elected the chairperson of BRAC Bangladesh. Later, he was also elected as the chairperson of Brac International.

On August 6 of this year, he announced his retirement as chairperson of BRAC Bangladesh and BRAC International. Since then he had been working as the chair emeritus of the world’s largest non-governmental organisation.

Abed started Brac with a small relief and rehabilitation project in northeastern Bangladesh. Today, Brac is one of the largest NGOs in the world, operating in eleven countries across Africa and Asia.

Abed has been honoured with numerous national and international awards. In 2009, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George by the British Crown for his services in reducing poverty.

Sir Fazle Abed is the lone Bangladeshi to be honoured with a knighthood by the British Crown. He was knighted in 2010.

On November 20 this year, he was honoured with the Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau for his successful work in alleviating poverty, especially of women and children.

He was also awarded as Outstanding Member of the South Asian Diaspora.

Some of his other awards include World Food Prize (2015), Spanish Order of Civil Merit (2014), Leo Tolstoy International Gold Medal (2014), WISE Prize for Education (2011).