Sir Fazle Hasan Abed (1936–2019) was a pioneering social entrepreneur and the founder of BRAC, the world's largest non-governmental development organization. Born in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), Abed dedicated his life to poverty alleviation, education, and healthcare, transforming millions of lives through innovative programs like microfinance, non-formal education (e.g., BRAC Schools), and public health initiatives.
Under his leadership, BRAC expanded globally, operating in 11 countries and impacting over 100 million people. Abed's work earned him numerous accolades, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1980) and the World Food Prize (2015). His model of scalable, community-driven development remains a benchmark for NGOs worldwide, and his vision continues to shape Bangladesh's socio-economic progress.