UNESCO Bangabandhu Award

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UNESCO to launch international prize in the name of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen told a news conference at his ministry on Sunday that the 'UNESCO Bangabandhu' award in the field of creative economy would be the first international award introduced by the organization.

He said the decision was taken unanimously at the 210th autumn session of the Executive Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which ended on December 11.

Dr. Momen said the award, which is worth USD 50,000, will be given every two years. The award will be presented for the first time during the 41st General Assembly of UNESCO in November 2021.

He said this is the first time that any UN body has launched an international award in the name of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. UNESCO has introduced 23 UNESCO International Awards in the name of internationally renowned individuals and organizations. This is the first time that UNESCO has introduced an international award in the name of Bangladesh and any other eminent person of Bangladesh.

He said, "Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a visionary thinker. His contribution to the development of Bengali culture is undeniable. The nation gratefully remembers his participation in the language movement of 1952, his struggle for freedom of speech, and the establishment of various institutions to create opportunities for the practice of Bengali culture after independence."

He said the United Nations has declared 2021 as the Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.