BRAC University and BRAC commemorated the sixth death anniversary of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed through a program titled “Young Abed: Crossroads of Courage and Conviction” on the university’s campus in Dhaka today (Thursday, 18 December 2025), a press release said.
The event highlighted key decisions, values, and the moral strength of a young Abed that later led to him becoming one of the world’s most influential figures in the development sector.
At a panel discussion, Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC, said, “Sir Fazle Hasan Abed always carried a hunger within him, a hunger for knowledge. That curiosity stayed with him throughout his life. It made him unique. He was eager to pass it on, to make others more curious. He established BRAC University as an institution to harness that same hunger and curiosity in young minds and help transform them into creative and value-driven leaders who enable society to address its evolving needs and challenges with courage and conviction.”
Tamara Hasan Abed, Managing Director of BRAC Enterprises, said, “Sir Fazle Hasan Abed always followed what his heart told him. By following my father’s philosophy, I have also found success in my own life.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Syed Ferhat Anwar said, “Abed bhai used to say that we must ask ourselves why we exist. No one else can answer that question for us. Once we find the answer, we discover the meaning of life.”
Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, Managing Director and CEO of BRAC Bank, said, “Abed bhai spoke very little, but when he did, his words were deeply meaningful. He never worked for personal recognition; serving humanity was always the core purpose of his work.”
Researcher Afsan Chowdhury, also an adjunct faculty member at the English department, Paroma Husain, director of BRAC’s Accelerating Impact for Young Women program; Senior Lecturer Tawhid Anwar, and Rana Tabassum, valedictorian of BRAC University’s 17th Convocation, took part in the discussion.
The discussion reflected the perspectives of the new generation alongside insights into Sir Fazle Hasan Abed’s life and personality. Young speakers shared their dreams for Bangladesh and the world.
Afsan Chowdhury noted that, although Abed bhai was born into an upper-class family and may have needed certain triggers to work for society, the spirit of service was always within him. He added that all human beings carry that spirit too and simply need triggers.
Excerpts from “Hope Over Fate”, the biography of Fazle Hasan Abed written by Scott MacMillan, were read out by Dr. Imran Matin, Executive Director of the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), and Dr Rubana Ahmed, Proctor of BRAC University.
Asif Saleh, Tamara Hasan Abed, and Syed Ferhat Anwar presented certificates to six students who reflected on Sir Fazle Hasan Abed’s youth and posted the most compelling prose, poetry, and visual art on social media as a part of a contest marking the anniversary.
The programme also featured a short play titled “If Abed Bhai Were Here” performed by members of the BRAC University Drama and Theatre Forum and depicting an imaginary dialogue between a young Abed and the present generation.
Recitations and musical performances were presented by students of Monon, BRAC University’s cultural organisation.
Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed, founder and adviser of the BRAC Institute of Languages and spouse of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, also shared her memories. Moutushi Kabir, Senior Director of People, Culture and Communications at BRAC, and BRAC University student Azwad Mostafiz Ador moderated the event.
Founder of both BRAC and BRAC University, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed passed away on December 20, 2019, at the age of 83.
