The central bank Wednesday awarded posthumously noted economists Dr. Professor Muzaffer Ahmed and Dr. Swadesh Ranjan Bose Bangladesh Bank Award 2013 for their outstanding contribution in the field of economics.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith handed over crests, gold medals and cheques for Tk 100,000 each to their widows at a function held at the Bangladesh Bank Training Academy in Dhaka.
Speaking as chief guest, Muhith recalled their contribution to country's socioeconomic development, saying that both of the economists
had contributed to the country since its pre-liberation period and continued to the last.
Chairman of Palli Karam Shahayak Foundation (PKSF) Dr Qazi Koliquzzaman Ahmed urged the central bank to continue honouring the economists uninterrupted.
BB Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman said it is not possible to pay off their contributions to the cause of the country. "They will be the idols and source of inspiration for the new-generation economists and development practitioners."
Reminiscing the memory, the daughter of Muzaffer Ahmed, Dr. Soheli Nazneen, said her father lived a balanced life by playing his due role in family, society and the state.
Dr. Roushan Jahan, wife of Professor Muzaffer Ahmed, and Nurjahan Bose, wife of Dr. Swadesh Ranjan Bose, recalled memories of their late husbands.
Director-General of Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) Dr Toufic Ahmed Chowdhury and Director-General of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Dr Mustafa Kamal Mujeri also spoke on the occasion.
Governor Dr Rahman chaired the programme while ministers, economists and chief executive officers of the commercial banks and financial institutions graced the ceremony.
Professor Dr Muzaffer Ahmad was an economist best known for his diverse researches on industry, education, international economics, public enterprises, human rights, health economics, labour relations, good governance, rural development and poverty reduction and environmental issues. He was also awarded Ekushey Padak in 2008. Dr Ahmed died in 2012.
Dr Swadesh Ranjan Bose contributed to reshaping the economy of the war-torn Bangladesh. Throughout his lifetime, he studied on reducing financial and social disparity for achieving economic emancipation of the people of the newly independent country.
Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) in 2010 awarded him gold medal (posthumously). He was also awarded Independence Day Award in 2013 (posthumously). Dr Bose died in 2009.
Introduced in 2000, the Bangladesh Bank Award was conferred on Professor Rehman Sobhan in 2000, Dr Nurul Islam in 2009 and Professor Dr Mosharaff Hossain in 2011.
