Abed, Brac get Laudato Si' award

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed and Brac have received this year's prestigious Laudato Si' award for creating opportunities for millions of people living in poverty.

The award, given at a ceremony on Tuesday night in the Vatican City, recognises Brac's significant impact in eradicating poverty in Bangladesh and 10 other countries, says a press release.

In 2015, Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si' (on care for our common home), in which he calls for an international dialogue on how to approach and act upon an ecological crisis.

Scott MacMillan, Brac senior adviser, USA, received the award on behalf of Abed, founder and chairperson of Brac.

The Laudato Si' awards are a set of three prizes honouring those who are committed to answering Pope Francis' clarion call. Other award winners are Huda Abuarquob in the individual  category and Sarara Camp in the enterprise category.

Expressing his gratitude, Abed said, “Like His Holiness Pope Francis, I believe that proper care for the planet means proper care for the people who live on it, including the most vulnerable among us. My vision is of a world where even the poorest have the opportunity to lead lives of purpose and dignity.”

“We have achieved much, but there is more to be done. For the first time in history, the eradication of extreme poverty from the face of the planet is within our sight.”

The Laudato Si' awards recognise “the innovators whose contributions are uniting humanity and transforming the way we approach impact and enterprise”.

Abed founded Brac in 1972.