25 November 2009, Dhaka. The First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety was held at the Russian Federation in Moscow  on 19 - 20 November 2009. Ahmed Najmul Hussain,  Director, BRAC attended the conference as part of a four member country delegation headed by Bangladesh Communication Minister Sayed Abul Hussain. Mr. Hussain gave a presentation on BRAC Road Safety programme achievements. 

The Conference was opened by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who called for urgent global action on road safety. More than 70 ministers and 1000 high-level representatives of governments, non-governmental and international organisations from nearly 140 countries attended the first-ever governmental- Minister-level meeting on road safety. In a statement delivered by Director-General of the United Nations office in Geneva, Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze, and United Nations Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon stressed the importance of regional commissions’ work for road safety.

The Conference adopted a declaration aiming to reduce the global toll of road deaths. The document declares 2011-2020 a decade of action for road safety, it appeals to the international donor community to ensure funding for global, regional and national road safety programmes and it emphasizes the necessity to evaluate progress. The declaration will be the basis for the fifth UN resolution on the subject.

In the closing session speakers from the WHO, World Bank, FIA Foundation and UK transport minister Paul Clark MP joined the head of the Russian traffic police, General Victor Kiryanov, and the Russian Interior Minister, Rashid Nurgaliev, to endorse the proposed decade and begin to set out plans for global coordination of the unprecedented effort to reduce road traffic injuries.

10 January 2010, Dhaka. Expressed Mr. John Denham, UK Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government while visiting BRAC Primary education programme in one of BRAC schools in Korail Slum, Dhaka. He was accompanied by Stephen Evans, the British High Commissioner, Chris Austin, DFID Country Representative, Dr. Mahabub Hossain, Executive Director of BRAC, Safiqul Islam, Director of BRAC Education programme and other british delegates including Neil O'Connor, Director, Cohesion Directorate, Department for Communities and Local Government; Sarah Montgomery, Private Secretary, Department for Communities and Local Government; Jake Sumner, Adviser, Department for Communities and Local Government and Mohammed Abdul Aziz, Adviser, Department for Communities and Local Government. 

The Secretary talked to the students and their teacher and observed class activities. Mr. Denham said, “I think it is tremendous to see these children given the opportunity of a basic education which their parents never had. This education would improve their lives in the future. And I think the work that BRAC is doing and the British Government is supporting by working with BRAC is really important. It does not matter where you are in the world or what your background is, you should have the opportunity to make the most of your talent and ability and that is what I think this school is doing.”

31 December 2009, Dhaka. Founder and Chairperson of BRAC, Fazle Hasan Abed, is to be knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services in tackling poverty and empowering the poor in Bangladesh and more globally. Abed is to be appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG). He is the first person of Bangladesh origin to be honoured with a knighthood by the British Crown since 1947. Abed is the second person in his family to be honoured with a knighthood. His grand uncle, Justice Nawab Sir Syed Shamsul Huda, was knighted by the British Crown in 1913.

                                      Biography   Press Release

03 March 2010, Dhaka. Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder and chairperson of BRAC, was knighted on Tuesday in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. The Knighthood, announced in the Queen’s New Year`s Honours List, was awarded in recognition of Sir Fazle’s services to reducing poverty in Bangladesh and internationally.

The Investiture Ceremony was held by Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, who represented Queen Elizabeth II. While conferring the knighthood, Prince Charles mentioned to Sir Fazle that he remembered visiting BRAC in Bangladesh and thanked him for his long service in reducing poverty.

Leaders from around the world have congratulated Sir Fazle on his Knighthood. Queen Rania of Jordan, in her message to Sir Fazle, wrote:

“More than just recognition of your tireless efforts to relieve poverty and disease in Bangladesh and abroad, this Knighthood gives further momentum to your reputation as one of the most dynamic and selfless humanitarians of our time.”

Sir Fazle was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG). Following tradition, Sir Fazle knelt on a velvet Investiture Stool to receive the accolade, which was bestowed using the sword which King George VI used when, as Duke of York, he was Colonel of the Scots Guards. Sir Fazle was then invested with a Neck Badge and Star carrying the Insignia of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.

Sir Fazle is the first person of Bangladesh origin to be honored with a Knighthood by the British Crown since 1947. Sir Fazle’s wife, Lady Sarwat Abed, and daughter and son, Tamara and Shameran, were present at the ceremony at Buckingham Palace.