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Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) has nominated renowned economist and former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman for the "Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah Gold Medal" for the year 2021 for his outstanding contributions to the country's socio-economic development, says a media statement on Monday.
Unnayan Shamannay, a non-government think tank established by Dr Rahman, expressed their gratitude to DAM for nominating their founder chairperson for this prestigious award, according to the statement.
Those receiving this award previously in different years include Valerie Ann Taylor (2008), Khondker Ibrahim Khaled (2009), National Professor Brigadier (Retd.) Abdul Malik (2010), Professor Jamilur Reza Chowhdury (2012), Professor Rehman Sobhan (2016)and National Professor Anisuzzaman (2018).
Dr Rahman is currently serving as the Emeritus Professor at the Dept of Development Studies and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Center for Advanced Research on Arts and Social Sciences at Dhaka University.
Previously, he served as the Bangabandhu Chair Professor at the same university. He is one of the senior fellows at BIDS. Additionally, he is contributing as a board member to the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) as well as the Bangabandhu Agricultural Award Trust.
In the international arena, Dr Rahman is contributing to social research and innovations as a Special Advisor to the Tokyo-based social research organisation named Social Innovation Japan (SIJ).
He is also contributing to cultural activities within Bangladesh as the executive chairman of Rabindra Sangeet Sammilon Parishad, and vice president of Chhayanaut.
As the governor of Bangladesh Bank, Dr Rahman led the financial sector of Bangladesh for about seven years since 2009.
He has been popularly dubbed the ‘Poor Peoples’ Economist’ for emphasising poverty reduction in his research, and he is also known as the ‘Green Governor’ for promoting sustainable finance both at home and abroad.
Along with publishing academic research work in numerous national and internationally acclaimed journals and regularly writing columns about contemporary economic issues in national dailies, Dr Rahman has also published over 100 books.
He has received numerous awards (both nationally and internationally) for his contributions to the financial sector as well as the academic arena.
He was recently awarded the Bangla Academy Rabindra Puroshkar and Rabindra Shommanona by Rabindra Academy.
His significant achievements include 'The Best Central Bank Governor Asia and Pacific, 2015', awarded by the Banker of the Financial Times; 'The Central Bank Governor of the Year for Asia 2015', awarded by the Emerging Markets of the Euro Money; 'GUSI Peace Prize International 2014', awarded by GUSI Foundation Manila; 'Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque 2011' for his outstanding contribution towards human progress, Asiatic Society. Kolkata; 'A Regulator with a Human Face', awarded by Dhaka University; 'Sheltech Award 2010 for financial inclusion; and 'National Literary Award (Bangla Academy Award)' for 2015.