Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder and a former Chairperson of BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee), the Bangladesh-based NGO dedicated to poverty alleviation and rural empowerment, died on December 20, 2019, at 83 years of age.
Ms Ameerah Haq, the Board Chair of BRAC Global, said in a statement: “Unfaltering dedication, focus and work ethic are what we have always experienced in Sir Fazle, or Abed Bhai, as the BRAC family calls him lovingly. He always put others before himself and let his work speak for itself. Even when BRAC attained its global stature, his concern and focus were on the less fortunate in society and those whose potential needed nurturing. He embodied the highest level of integrity, humility and humanity, which continues to be the essential guiding spirit of BRAC.”
US President Bill Clinton issued a statement that, “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…. His legacy will live on in all the people whose lives are better, healthier, and more secure because of his remarkable service.”
Founded by Sir Fazle in 1972, BRAC was created to provide relief and rehabilitation following the Liberation War, when Bangladesh became independent of Pakistan. BRAC since adjusted its focus to poverty alleviation and empowering poor people, serving 7.1 million clients across 11 countries in Asia and Africa, with affiliate offices in the USA, the UK and the Netherlands. While BRAC disbursed approximately USD 4 billion in loans in 2018, it was not simply a microbank. The organization describes itself as a “unique ecosystem comprising development programmes, microfinance, social enterprises, a university, bank and a range of mission-aligned investments.”
By Anna Gravois, Research Associate
Sources and Additional Resources
BRAC press release
http://www.brac.net/latest-news/item/1258-brac-founder-sir-fazle-hasan-abed-kcmg-passes-away
Clinton Foundation statement
https://www.clintonfoundation.org/press-releases/statement-president-clinton-passing-sir-fazle-abed
MicroCapital brief on Sir Abed’s knighting
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-fazle-hasan-abed-founder-and-chairperson-of-microfinance-institution-brac-to-be-knighted-by-her-majesty-queen-elizabeth-ii/
MicroCapital profile on Sir Abed
https://www.microcapital.org/whos-who-in-microfinance-fazle-hasan-abed/
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