GUSI Peace Prize for ‘Poor Man’s Economist’ Governor Atiur Rahman

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman has been selected for the ‘GUSI Peace Prize International 2014’ Award for his work in economics with a focus on welfare of the poor.

A central bank communiqué said Dr Rahman would receive the award on Nov 26 at a ceremony in the Philippines’s capital Manila.

The Gusi Peace Prize foundation has described him as the “Poor Man’s Economist” in the award citation.

"This award is not for me. It is for those I work for and work with," Rahman told bdnews24.com in immediate reaction.

"It is an award for efforts that my colleagues and I made to bring the poor into the economic mainstream," he said.

He is the second Bangladeshi to get the award.

Last year, AHM Noman, secretary general of Development Organisation of Rural Poor, got the award from Bangladesh.

Rahman said since he took over he had taken a raft of measures like creating small entrepreneurs, allowing farmers to open bank accounts with Tk 10, allowing students, readymade garments workers and street children to open accounts, among others.

He believes the GUSI prize is a recognition of these efforts.

Along with him 14 other eminent personalities from Austria, China, Congo, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland and Saudi Arabia would also be decorated with award.

They will be recognised for their exemplary contributions toward peace and welfare in their various respective fields, the communiqué said.

Dr Rahman has received a number of other international awards, including the Indira Gandhi Gold Plaque for his contribution to international cooperation to human progress.

Atiur Rahman said their efforts to alleviate poverty reflected the aspiration of the Liberation War.

"Through these activities, we are moving towards our economic emancipation for which we liberated our country," he said.