BRAC Bank honours champions with Poribesh Padak

BRAC Bank and Tarupallab have jointly honoured four individuals and organisations with the Dwijen Sharma Poribesh Padak 2024 for extraordinary achievements in biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and ecological awareness in Bangladesh.

The award ceremony took place at the Bangla Academy, with Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, as the Chief Guest, and Nurun Nahar, Deputy Governor of the Bangladesh Bank, as the Special Guest. The award commemorates the legacy of the late Professor Dwijen Sharma, a renowned naturalist and botanist.

This year's awardees are:

• Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan was honoured for over forty years of work in biodiversity and environmental education.
• Md. Aminul Islam was recognised for creating Gachh Bari, an arboretum with 10,000 plants and rare species.
• Project Sonapahar was commended for establishing the country's first private Miyawaki forest.
• Sabuj Chakma was lauded for community-based conservation, bird-friendly saplings, and eco-tourism in Rangamati.

Speaking at the ceremony, Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, "Each awardee here today transformed their vision into action through tireless efforts. Protecting our forests, rivers, and wildlife is not optional but a shared national responsibility."

Nurun Nahar added, "These environmental leaders show that sustainable development begins with committed individuals. Their work is a blueprint for Bangladesh's future."

Faruq Mayeenuddin Ahmed, Vice Chairperson of BRAC Bank, remarked: "These guardians of the environment are shaping Bangladesh's future. This award recognises their relentless efforts to inspire and protect."

Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, Managing Director and CEO (Current Charge) of BRAC Bank, said: "True progress must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility. This award reflects our promise to honour changemakers and build a sustainable future."

BRAC Bank has been recognised as one of the country's leading sustainable banks by Bangladesh Bank's sustainability ratings and Bloomberg's ESG ratings, reaffirming its commitment to fostering responsible banking and a greener future.