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.
The executive board of the UN agency adopted a Bangladesh-moved resolution unanimously in this regard at its 210th meeting held on Friday, according to the UNESCO.
This is the first time any UN body decided to launch an award after the name of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
UNESCO, earlier, recognised the historic 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu as part of the world’s documentary heritage by including that in the ‘Memory of the World International Register’, a list of world’s important documentary heritage maintained by UNESCO.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, in an instant reaction, said the international prize would help spread the ideology of Bangabandhu globally with further ‘internationalisation of his work, life and achievements’.
“Bangladesh and Bangabandhu are one and unique which was reflected in the name of the award. This award will play a role in branding Bangladesh and boosting its image globally,” he said.
The decision came as Bangladesh is celebrating the birth centenary of Bangabandhu through yearlong programmes. UNESCO declared 2021 as ‘International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development’.
Adopting the resolution, UNESCO recognised the potential of the creative sector to provide young people with economically and environmentally sustainable jobs.
It said the UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy would create “a knowledge-sharing mechanism by capturing, celebrating and communicating best practice in the development of creative entrepreneurship”.
“We do believe this award will create an opportunity to spread the ideology of Bangabandhu across the world and inspire global cultural workers in a flourishing creative economy,” the foreign minister said, adding that the UN agency is currently running 23 awards after the names of different eminent global personalities or organizations.
“This is the first time UNESCO has decided to introduce an award after the name of someone from Bangladesh who is respected by all.”
The UNESCO will award the prize worth $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 foreign minister said.
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 states of UNESCO executive board and its director general Audrey Azoulay for taking the decision.
Earlier, in August last year, the foreign ministry through its mission in Paris 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.”