BRAC Bank, Tarupallab honour environmental heroes with 'Dwijen Sharma Poribesh Padak'

Brac Bank, in collaboration with Tarupallab, has presented the 'Dwijen Sharma Poribesh Padak 2025' to six individuals and institutions for their exceptional contributions to biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and ecological awareness in Bangladesh. 

The awards were given at a ceremony held today (10 July) at the Bangla Academy.

The event was attended by the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, as the chief guest. 

The award honours the legacy of the late Professor Dwijen Sharma, a prominent naturalist and botanist whose work has inspired countless individuals to protect nature.

At the event, Prof Dr Md Ashrafuzzaman was honoured for his significant contributions to biodiversity research while Pran Baichitra Farm was presented with an award in recognition of its efforts to preserve indigenous seeds and agricultural heritage, as well as for developing a successful model of sustainable agriculture and agro-tourism.

Md Badsha Mia received an award for planting more than 30,000 trees over the past two decades and for leading grassroots tree-planting initiatives across the Rangpur region.

Umme Kulsum Popy was honoured with the 'Green Sarathi' award for raising awareness of sustainable agriculture, rooftop gardening, safe food production and environmental protection through digital platforms while Sumaiya Mariam received award for her important role in the Tree Census 2025 project.

Prof Dr Kazi Ahsan Habib was presented with the award in recognition of his pioneering contribution to the development of Bangladesh's blue economy and for increasing the number of officially documented marine fish species from 475 to 740.

Speaking at the ceremony, Abdul Awal Mintoo said, "Protecting nature is no longer an option; it is a national responsibility. Today's award recipients have demonstrated that the dedication and initiative of even a single individual can bring about lasting positive environmental change and inspire others."

BRAC Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Tareq Refat Ullah Khan said, "Responsible banking is about far more than providing financial services. It is a commitment to creating long-term value for people, society and the environment.

Through this award, we are recognising individuals and organisations whose work is making an exceptional contribution towards building a greener, more sustainable and liveable Bangladesh." 

Introduced in 2025, the BRAC Bank – Tarupallab Dwijen Sharma Poribesh Padak recognises individuals and organisations for outstanding contributions to environmental conservation. 

Last year, the two organisations honoured four recipients for their exceptional efforts in protecting nature.