BRAC- the Brand of Development steered by dynamic leader Sir Fazle Hasan Abed

Masum Billah : The book with an interesting title ‘ Prantojoner Aponjon’  was born on the 80^th birth anniversary of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder and chairperson of BRAC, the largest NGO in the globe. Actually it encompasses the greetings, acknowledgements and recognition made by some eminent personalities . So, the book actually bears testimony to the rich tributes to Sir Fazle Hasan Abed . The individuals who contributed to it include Rehman Sobhan, Akbar Ali Khan, Dr. Kamal Hossain, Abdul Bayes, Professor Jamilur Reza Chowdhury and Golam Sarwar, It also accommodates the long and glorious life sketch and success stories of the great global social leader and friend of the poor, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. How the difficult tasks to bring smile to the life of the poor has been made possible find its description in this small book of 68 pages only. The sign of visual reality to remove poverty, make illiterate literate and bring smile to the lips of the poor and marginalized gets reflected in this book through the comments, addresses and tribulations of some renowned personalities.

In order to address the culture of poverty it necessitates change both at the societal and individual levels. So, BRAC had been addressing the needs of the poor at the grassroots with its economic and social development programs and has also been building institutions that would spearhead changes at the societal level. The logic of BRAC programs is the creation of an ‘enabling environment’ in which the poor can participate in their own development. Chinese philosopher Confucius said, “In a country well-governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.” This quotation has been used by Akbar Ali Khan as he wants to mean a country must see good governance to remove poverty and cause development and BRAC attaches huge importance to the essence of this quotation.

Abed has combined extraordinary entrepreneurial and management skills with a genuine passion for public service which began with a commitment to the dispossessed of his own country but has now extended to the deprived across the world. He constructed a multi-faceted agenda for change which incorporated credit, healthcare, education and skill development so as to empower the excluded to stand on their own feet. His approach of transforming the poor from victims into the masters of their own fate encouraged him to build an organization which could graduate from aid dependence to fiscal self-reliance through building programs. The upcoming social leaders across the globe can determine their way following the footprint of Sir Abed who has touched all possible features of human life to bring about a qualitative change in lives of the backward population.

BRAC has now extended its reach across the globe. How it has become possible? Definitely the genuine commitment of Abed to serve the world’s deprived as the deprived people of all over the world belong to the game group. It has invested its experience in rehabilitating the tsunami victims in Sri Lankan and the war-ravaged population in Afghanistan. BRAC has spread its tentacles to the war-torn and poor parts of African countries to bring about change in the individuals as well as country level change. This is why Abed is said to be a global leader whose concerned lies not only for the poor and socially disadvantaged people of his own country rather for the global population without discriminating the geographical boundaries created by man.   BRAC works in Pakistan though we had a sad experience with Pakistan but the broad minded and large hearted Abed thinks of the disadvantaged and educationally backward citizens of that country.  Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Liberia and Sierra Leone see the successful treading of BRAC and its dedicated staff. The writer has the opportunity to see the African situation and peep into the education of rural Africa.  BRAC has even extended its reach across the Atlantic to Haiti. BRAC’S extra ordinary engagement with the deprived has transformed into the largest NGO in the world. Rehman Sobha, the distinguished economist has rightly said, “BRAC is now more than an NGO. Its scale of operations would suggest that it is now a corporation for the deprived.” Yes, the people of the NGO world and the world of the disadvantaged and marginalized must tune with the same words uttered by Rehman Sobhan. Some say, BRAC is a mother NGO and many NGOs find their skilled staff coming from BRAC which is another reality BRAC has created by Abed’s leadership.

While presenting the Human Development prize of the UNDP to Sir Abed in 2004, the chief of UNDP is reported to have said something very soothing. “We first gave this prize to the president of Brazil for carrying out huge human development activities in the country. When evaluating the activities of the Presidents and Prime Minister of different countries for awarding the prize second time, we noticed that, compared to them, more important works were done by Fazle Hasan Abed of BRAC. Therefore, we decided to award the prize to a ‘President of the People” rather than president of a country.” Abed has definitely been saturated with so many global prizes. But these words uttered by UNDP chief undoubtedly proves a different stature of honour towards him which we as Bangladeshis feel proud of. Rightly he says that abed is a president of the people who has won the hearts of millions by his dedicated, suitable, fruitful and honest desire and steps. One of government officials of the department of education one day told me, he visited a famous Canadian University where the name the present wise men of the world have been written along with their pictures. He told me with emotion that he just then felt proud of being an individual from Bangladesh as the name of Sir Abed along with his brilliant picture proclaims his greatness and glory of Bangladesh

Sir Abed has received numerous national and international awards for his achievements including the prestigious World Food Prize 2015-also known as Noble Prize for Agriculture. He pioneered a new approach to development that has effectively and sustainably addressed the interconnectedness between hunger and poverty. While receiving the prize, his cogent comments went to crown his comrades  “I must acknowledge that the award does not belong to me alone, it is the recognition of BRAC’s work over the last 43 years in providing pathways out of poverty for millions of people in Bangladesh and other countries in Africa and Asia. The real heroes are the poor themselves and in particular, the poverty –hit women who overcome enormous challenge each day of their lives. Throughout our work across the world, we have learnt that countries and culture vary, but realities, struggles, aspirations and dreams of poor and marginalized people are remarkably similar.”

The NGO world people, researchers, interested people of development world can find this book useful and interesting to read as it unfolds the innovative and visionary ideas of Sir Abed which have lifted the millions out of poverty. And it was not merely by microcredit but by ‘credit plus’ approach. Under his dynamic leadership, women and human Resource Development have long been the cornerstone of BRAC that grew as the ‘Brand’ of Development for the poor all over the world and Sir Abed still drives the wheel of that development.

(Masum Billah :The writer works in BRAC Education Program and a formerly Faculty Member of Cadent College who  regularly writes on various issues with particular focus on education. Cell: 01714-091431, Email: [email protected])