BB awards two economists posthumously

Prof Muzaffer Ahmad and Swadesh Ranjan Bose were posthumously given Bangladesh Bank Award 2013 yesterday for their contribution to the economy and development of the country.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith handed the awards to the wives of the country's two eminent economists at a programme at Bangladesh Bank Training Academy in the capital. The award comprises a gold medal, Tk 1 lakh in cash and a crest.

The two were awarded for their creative research and works on development economics, said Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman, also the chief of the jury board, while recalling their contribution.  

Prof Ahmad was best known for his diverse research on industry, education, international economics, public enterprises, human rights, health economics, labour relations, good governance, rural development, poverty reduction and environment.

He led Transparency International Bangladesh for a few years to fight corruption in the country. As one of the leading environmentalists, he angered land grabbers and river polluters.

The former professor of Dhaka University was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2008 -- four years before his demise. A former economist of the World Bank, Bose contributed to reconstruction of the economy of the war-torn Bangladesh. He was one of the members of the planning cell of the Mujibnagar Government.

Throughout his life, Bose studied ways to reduce financial and social disparity for achieving economic emancipation of the people of the newly independent country.

Bangladesh Economic Association awarded him the Gold Medal (posthumously) in 2010. He was awarded the Independence Day Award, the highest state award given by the government in 2013, four years after his death.

At the ceremony, noted economists showered praises on both economists. "As a frontline economist, Muzaffer Ahmad contributed significantly to imparting knowledge of economics," said Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, an economist.

"He fought for poverty alleviation, good governance and civic rights," he said.

Accepting the award, Roushan Jahan, wife of Prof Ahmed, thanked the central bank for awarding her husband.

“I have come to realise that many still remember him. This is the biggest consolation for me and my family."

Noorjahan Bose, wife of Bose, received the award on behalf of her husband. Economists Prof Rehman Sobhan, Nurul Islam and Prof Mosharaff Hossain were among the previous recipients of the Bangladesh Bank Award introduced in 2000.