BRAC Bank honours 25 institutions on silver jubilee

BRAC Bank PLC has marked its 25th anniversary by recognising 25 institutions for their contributions to public welfare, community development and Bangladesh's socioeconomic progress.

The recognition, titled "25 Most Impactful Institutions in Bangladesh", was part of the bank's silver jubilee celebrations and reflected BRAC Bank's commitment to service, integrity, inclusion and social impact inspired by its founder, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed.

The recognised institutions have contributed to healthcare, education, social development, poverty alleviation, agriculture, employment generation, financial and technological innovation, sports, and arts and culture.

The selection process was conducted independently by a jury panel formed and supervised by The Business Standard, the bank said in a press release. The institutions were evaluated based on the scale of their operations, the depth of their impact, their contribution to society, and their long-term role in national development.

The awards were presented at a gala ceremony in Dhaka on 5 July 2026, attended by customers, business leaders, policymakers, civil society representatives and other stakeholders.

The 25 recognised institutions are ACI Group, Anjuman Mufidul Islam, Apex Footwear Limited, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Thalassaemia Foundation, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh Women's National Football Team, Bengal Foundation, BIRDEM General Hospital, Bishwo Shahitto Kendra, bKash Limited, BRAC, Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed, Chhayanaut, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Grameenphone, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Kumudini Nursing College, Notre Dame College, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, PRAN-RFL Group and Square Group.

Speaking at the ceremony, Meheriar M Hasan, Chairperson of BRAC Bank PLC, said, "If our first 25 years proved that inclusion works, our next phase will focus on making inclusion universal. We must expand Sir Fazle Hasan Abed's vision – from serving the 'Missing Middle' to reaching the 'Missing Majority'. We will continue working to ensure that every Bangladeshi has access to opportunities, services and pathways to prosperity."

Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BRAC Bank PLC, said the bank has created meaningful social impact and contributed to the country's socioeconomic development over the years.

"Like our bank, many other institutions have made significant contributions to society and deserve to be recognised for their impact. It is deeply fulfilling for us to honour these esteemed organisations that have transformed lives and created opportunities for people across the country," he said.

Khan said BRAC Bank would continue to undertake scalable initiatives that generate greater socioeconomic impact and contribute to national development.

Inam Ahmed, Editor of The Business Standard, said, "At The Business Standard, we believe that recognising institutions that have consistently served the people is as important as reporting the news itself. We are honoured to partner with BRAC Bank in this unique initiative and to ensure that the selection process was conducted independently, rigorously and transparently."

"We hope this recognition will inspire organisations across Bangladesh to pursue excellence, integrity and lasting social impact," he said.

BRAC Bank PLC, which began operations in 2001 with a focus on the small and medium enterprise segment, now operates 310 branches and sub-branches, 330 automated teller machines, 446 small and medium enterprise unit offices and 1,119 agent banking outlets.

The bank serves more than two million customers across small and medium enterprises, corporate and retail segments and has a workforce of more than 10,000 people.