Written by The Banking Post
BRAC Bank, in collaboration with Tarupallab, awarded the ‘Dwijen Sharma Poribesh Padak 2024’ to four individuals and institutions for outstanding contributions to biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and ecological awareness in Bangladesh. The ceremony was held on August 30, 2025, at the Bangla Academy.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, attended as Chief Guest, while Nurun Nahar, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank, was present as Special Guest. The award commemorates the legacy of the late Professor Dwijen Sharma, a renowned naturalist and botanist.
Recipients included:
- Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, life member of Bangla Academy, for over four decades of work in biodiversity conservation and environmental education.
- Md. Aminul Islam, for creating a 15-bigha arboretum, Gachh Bari, housing nearly 10,000 plants and 250 unique trees.
- Project Sonapahar, for establishing Bangladesh’s first private Miyawaki forest in Mastannagar, Mirsarai.
- Sabuj Chakma, Executive Engineer at the Roads and Highways Department, for planting thousands of trees, distributing over 87,500 bird-friendly saplings, and developing eco-tourism initiatives in Rangamati.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan highlighted the awardees’ dedication, stating their efforts underscore that protecting forests, rivers, and wildlife is a national responsibility. Nurun Nahar called their work a blueprint for sustainable development in Bangladesh.
Faruq Mayeenuddin Ahmed, Vice Chairperson of BRAC Bank, said the award recognises those shaping the country’s environmental future. Mokarom Hossain, General Secretary of Tarupallab, emphasised collective efforts to expand environmental outreach.
BRAC Bank’s Managing Director and CEO (Current Charge), Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, affirmed the bank’s commitment to responsible banking and environmental stewardship. The bank has been recognised among Bangladesh’s leading sustainable banks by Bangladesh Bank and ESG ratings from Bloomberg.
