DHAKA: Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman is set to receive the Gusi Peace Prize International-2014 in Manila on Wednesday for his contribution as poor men’s economist.
The award will be handed over to Atiur Rahman among 15 laureates at the 13th Annual Gusi Peace Prize International Awarding Ceremonies at Plenary Hall of Philippine International Convention Center.
He is the second Bangladeshi as the winner of the award. The other winners are from Austria, China, Congo, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Nepal, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland and Saudi Arabia.
Besides, the BB Governor attended various pre-event talks and sessions as a part of the Gusi awarding ceremony, a press release of the Central Bank said.
On Tuesday, he visited Governor Amando Tetangco of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Central Bank of Philippines.
Deputy Governor of BSP was also present with other officials of both the central banks. Ambassador of Bangladesh Maj. Gen. John Gomez, psc (Retd) accompanied him during the visit.
At the onset of the meeting both the Governor exchanged there common interest in the emerging experience in Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI). They acknowledged the success of BB as a member of the Steering Committee of AFI and BB Governor shared various success stories of financial inclusion drives in Bangladesh such as survey report on extended coverage of the mobile banking by 76% of the rikshaw-pullars in Dhaka which extends financial services to the poor one step above.
The BSP Governor shared his upcoming initiatives for standardizing the indicators for financial inclusion through a benchmark survey. BB Governor expressed his deep interest in sharing BSP experience. The Ambassador John Gomez also shared his experiences to extend trade initiatives especially in the RMG sector between Bangladesh and Philippines.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, Governor Atiur Rahman along with thirteen fellow Gusi Peace International Prize laureates went to Rizal Park to attend a befitting wreath laying ceremony with gun salute.
After the ceremony at Rizal Park, the laureates congregated at the National Press Club where Barry S. Gusi, Chairman of the Gusi Foundation asked the Governor Atiur Rahman to share his feeling to the audiences. Governor expressed his gratitude to have the chance to reach poor people through various financial inclusion drives from central bank in addition it main mandate intact.
The initiatives of financial inclusion in Bangladesh are now getting recognition worldwide, Atiur added. Governor concluded his speech by dedicating the award to the martyrs of 1971 war of liberation and poor but hard working entrepreneurial people of Bangladesh.
The Gusi Peace Prize, one of the foremost peace prize in Asia and the whole world given by Gusi Peace Prize International, based in Manila, the Philippines.
In 2002, Gusi Peace Foundation introduced the peace award in the name of Javier Gusi who was a participant of Guerrilla war against Japan in the Second World War, turned politician, and became popular for his fight for human rights.
BDST: 0130 HRS, Nov 26, 2014
