Fazle Hasan Abed facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Fazle Hasan Abed KCMG
ফজলে হাসান আবেদ
Abed receiving the Thomas Francis Jr Medal from the University of Michigan (April 2016)
Born	(1936-04-27)27 April 1936 Baniachong, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died	20 December 2019(2019-12-20) (aged 83) Dhaka, Bangladesh
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Education	Naval Architecture
Alma mater	Dhaka College University of Glasgow
Known for	Founder of BRAC
Spouse(s)	Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed KCMG (Bengali: ফজলে হাসান আবেদ; 27 April 1936 – 20 December 2019) was a very important person from Bangladesh. He started BRAC, which is one of the biggest non-profit organizations in the world. BRAC helps millions of people by working on education, health, and fighting poverty.

Early Life and Helping Others

Fazle Hasan Abed was born on April 27, 1936, in a village called Baniachong in what is now Bangladesh. His family were landowners. He was one of eight children. His grandfather and great-uncle were also important people who worked in government during the time of British rule in India.

When he was 18, Abed went to the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He studied naval architecture, which is about designing ships. But he soon realized there weren't many jobs for ship designers back home in Bangladesh (which was then called East Pakistan). So, he decided to study accounting in London instead, finishing his studies in 1962.

Abed then returned to Bangladesh and started working for the Shell Oil Company. He quickly became the head of their finance department. This job taught him a lot about how big companies are managed. This knowledge later helped him a lot when he started BRAC.

Fazle Hasan Abed in the mid-2000s

In 1970, a terrible cyclone hit the coastal areas of Bangladesh. It killed about 300,000 people. This disaster deeply affected Abed. He felt that his comfortable corporate life was not enough. So, he and his friends created an organization called HELP. They worked to provide aid and help people rebuild their lives in the areas most affected by the cyclone.

Soon after, Bangladesh began its fight for independence from Pakistan. Abed had to leave the country and went to the United Kingdom. There, he set up "Action Bangladesh" to ask European governments to support Bangladesh's independence.

Starting BRAC

When Bangladesh became independent in December 1971, Abed sold his apartment in London. He used the money to start an organization that would help poor people in rural areas. He chose a remote area called Sulla in northeastern Bangladesh to begin his work. This is how BRAC started in 1972.

BRAC grew to become one of the largest development organizations in the world. It helps people in many ways, including:

• Education
• Healthcare
• Microfinance (small loans to help people start businesses)
• Teaching new skills
• Protecting human rights
• Helping with farming and business development

In 2002, BRAC started working in other countries, beginning with Afghanistan. Since then, BRAC has expanded to 10 countries across Asia and Africa. It is now known as the largest non-profit organization in the world, both by the number of people it employs and the number of people it helps.

Awards and Recognition

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed received many important awards for his work. These awards recognized his efforts in helping communities and fighting poverty around the world. Some of his notable awards include:

• The Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1980.
• The Maurice Pate Award by UNICEF in 1992.
• The Olof Palme Prize in 2001.
• He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 2010 by the British Crown. This gave him the title "Sir."
• The WISE Prize for Education in 2011.
• The World Food Prize in 2015, for his work in improving food security.
• The LEGO Prize in 2018.
• The Yidan Prize in 2019, which is a global award for education.

He also received many honorary degrees from famous universities around the world, like Yale University, Columbia University, and the University of Oxford. These degrees honored his amazing contributions to society.

His Passing

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed passed away on December 20, 2019, at the age of 83. He had been receiving treatment for a brain tumor. He left behind his wife, a daughter, a son, and three grandchildren. His legacy continues through the millions of lives touched by BRAC's work.

Images for kids

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  Abed receiving the Thomas Francis Jr Medal from the University of Michigan (April 2016)