BRAC University organized a commemorative program on 20 December 2023 marking the 4th anniversary of the passing of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, KCMG, founder of BRAC and BRAC University.
In the morning, a delegation from BRAC University, led by Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, PhD, Pro Vice-Chancellor & Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, paid homage to Sir Fazle by laying floral tributes at his grave in the Banani graveyard in Dhaka.
Afterwards, a discussion was held on the university’s campus, where a panel of speakers discussed various aspects of Sir Fazle’s life and philosophy, providing insights into his enduring contributions and visionary outlook.
The event was attended by Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed, Senior Director of the BRAC Institute of Languages (BIL), Professor Shaila Sultana, Director of the BIL, Dr. David Dowland, Registrar, Major General (retd) Sahool Afzal, Former Registrar, and distinguished faculty members and students from various departments.
Sir Fazle made significant contributions to primary education by establishing over 45,000 primary schools, promoting education for the underprivileged and implementing innovative teaching methods with a focus on community engagement, said Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed. His efforts have had a lasting impact on education in Bangladesh and beyond, she said.
Sir Fazle’s contributions to education, particularly through BRAC, are so extensive and vast that it is not possible to discuss it within a limited period of time, said Major General (retd) Sahool Afzal. It will take several books to compile all of Sir Fazle’s contributions, he said urging all, especially the young generation, to know more about Sir Fazle.
Students and alumni frequently state that the life of Sir Fazle acts as a great inspiration for them, said Dr. David Dowland. They also cite his remarkable journey and entrepreneurial achievements and worldwide movement of BRAC, he said.
BRAC University will stand tall as an everlasting testament to the visionary legacy of Sir Fazle, said Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz. Sir Fazle's legacy will live on not only through events but also through research, teaching and curriculum of all at the university, he said.
The event later hosted a heartfelt musical tribute through the rendition of songs alongside poetry by faculty members commemorating the extraordinary life of Sir Fazle. A digital photo exhibition that would run for a week showcasing memorable moments from the life of Sir Fazle offered a visual tribute to his impactful journey.
Throughout the day, BRAC University actively shared videos and other content on its social media channels, dedicated to upholding the legacy of the visionary, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, KCMG.