Our Abed bhai

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, known as Abed bhai to countless Bangladeshis at home and abroad, has passed away. Today everyone is talking about his achievements and admirable work, but not many of us know the history behind how this man, who created so many institutions, became an institution himself.

It was sometime in the early eighties when I was a young researcher, that I visited Shalla, a remote area of Sunamganj, on field work. I was to collect information on how the NGOs and other non-government initiatives spread at the field level. I was also extremely eager to meet the development organiser Fazle Hasan Abed.

I had heard that when he returned to the country after the war, he easily shrugged off his corporate job with all its perks and committed himself to improving the lives of the deprived people in the remote areas of Bangladesh. It was in Shalla that he planted the seeds of his talent, thoughts and vision, which eventually grew into the world’s largest non-government development organisation.

I stayed in Shalla for a few days but did not get to meet Abed bhai. He was in Dhaka, but his colleagues showed me the house where he stayed. It was a humble abode, lit only with the light of a lantern.

I was impressed by BRAC’s Non-Formal Primary Education (NFPE) programme at Shalla. A teacher ran the non-formal school with 25 to 30 children in the yard of a local person. The children were from 8 to 12 years of age. They sat on a mat spread out in the yard, happily doing their lessons, while their cows and goats looked on!

One of the BRAC workers who had accompanied me said, these children had to take the cows and goats out to graze, so they simply brought them along with them to school. In fact, the teacher consults with the children and fixes the school timing according to their tasks. I was amazed how BRAC took socioeconomic realities into cognizance when creating a demand for education among the local community.

Now no one’s yard is required to run the schools and the children don’t have to bring along their cows or goats. The school timing doesn’t have to be so flexible either.

Sir Abed’s non-formal primary education model has undeniably had a far-reaching contribution to the demand for education that has spread among the people of all levels in Bangladesh today.

Ever since then I had been waiting to meet Fazle Hasan Abed. The nineties came and the country was rocked with the mass uprising against autocracy. The autocratic government finally fell and Abed bhai joined hands with the three political alliances who had signed a joint declaration, lending his social leadership. And that is how I met him. I was in awe of his wisdom, his love for the country and the people, his eagerness to work with the new generation.

During the two and a half decades or more that I have been involved in the development world, I observed how he has dealt with so many crises with a cool head. He has guided his colleagues, taken initiative, and forged ahead with his plans.

I have never seen Abed bhai pause for a moment. The life force bestowed upon him by the Creator, the talent that he exercised and the humanity with which he worked for the people all his life, has made him a role model for all of us, particularly for development activists. Bangladesh is known around the world as fertile and dynamic grounds for the NGO sector. Women’s empowerment initiatives and women’s development at the grassroots are lauded worldwide. And we must give due credit to Sir Fazle Hasan Abed for this.

Many successful women of the NGO sector are now in positions of leadership. It would not be incorrect to say that most of them have been moulded by Abed bhai. He did not go ahead alone. He inspired many to devote themselves to the welfare of the common people of this land.

Abed bhai had long been the founder chairperson of the mass literacy campaign formed by a large number of non-government organisations involved in the country’s education sector. Once at the annual general meeting he declared, “I do not want to be the chairperson any longer. It is not good for the same person to be elected as the head of this coalition every time. It is undemocratic.” But most of the women members at the meeting rose up and refused to take a ‘no’ from him. He was taken aback but, respecting the demands of the women members there, he stayed on one more term as chairperson. I was the chief executive of the organisation. Fazle Hasan Abed’s leadership rendered any organisation dynamic.

I visited Abed bhai at his home in November. He was ill and bed-ridden. I was not used to seeing him in such a state and it was hard to hold back tears. He called me close and said, “You are working for education and there will be many challenges ahead, but do not give up.” He was so unwell, but he didn’t have a word about himself. He urged me to go ahead with my efforts in education. That was only possible for Abed bhai!

Ever since the independence of the country four and a half decades ago, Abed bhai created so many organisations, given means of living to so many people, created leadership, spread the light of education, ensured health services and more. And so much of his endeavours, his work, his achievements, will remain behind the scenes. He shied away from publicity and now has slipped away into the land of no return. Many development activists like myself who see him as a father figure, a role model, will continue on our way along the path he has illuminated for us.

Abed bhai, no matter where you are, stay well. The Creator will surely take care of you. That is our prayer today as we bid you farewell.

* Rasheda K Chowdhury is the executive director of CAMPE. This column appeared in the print edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ayesha Kabir