DHAKA, Dec 13, 2020 (BSS) – The UNESCO has decided to introduce “UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize in the field of Creative Economy” for rewarding global economic initiatives of youths.
“This is the first time any line organisation of the United Nations decided to launch award after the name of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” foreign minister Dr A K Abdul Momen told reporters at his office today.
The UNESCO Executive Board has unanimously adopted the proposal at its 210th meeting held on Friday, Dr Momen said.
Mentioning that currently UNESCO is running 23 awards after names of different eminent global personalities or organizations, the foreign minister said, adding this is the first time UNESCO has decided to introduce an award after the name of someone from Bangladesh who is respected by all.
“We do believe this award will create an opportunity to spread the ideology of Bangabandhu across the world and inspire global cultural workers in flourishing creative economy,” he said.
Dr Momen hoped that this award will play a vital role in building Bangladesh image in the world. “The name of the prize reflects that Bangladesh and Bangabandhu is one and inseparable,” he added.
The UNESCO will award the prize worth US $50,000 in every two years while it will be first handed over at the 41st UNESCO’s general meeting to be held on November next year, the minister said.
The decision came as Bangladesh is celebrating the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through yearlong programmes while UNESCO declared 2021 as ‘International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development’.
During its 40th meeting, Dr Momen said UNESCO included Bangabandhu’s birth centenary celebration at its ‘anniversary programme’.
“UNESCO has directly involved itself in the Bangabandhu’s birth centenary celebration by declaring the prize during the ongoing Mujib Barsha,” he said.
The foreign minister thanked all the member satiates of UNESCO executive board and its director general Audrey Azoulay for taking the decision.
The UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy will create a knowledge-sharing mechanism by capturing, celebrating and communicating best practice in the development of creative entrepreneurship, according to UNESCO document.
In August last year, Dhaka through Ambassador of Bangladesh to France & Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Kazi Imtiaz Hossain sent a proposal to UNESCO for launching an international award after the name of Bangabandhu to build and sustain peace and social cohesion having unflinching faith in the power of culture.
Before the UNESCO executive board meeting, Bangladesh’s proposal was considered and approved by the Joint Meeting of the Programme and External Relations Commission and the Finance and Administrative Commission on December 9.
The objectives of the UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy are in line with strategic objective 8 of UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2014-2021 and with the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, said UNESCO.