The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) in its 210th Executive Board has unanimously adopted the proposal to launch a USD 50,000 ‘UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize’ for the Creative Economy. It is UNESCO’s 1st award in the field of the creative economy.
- The prize is named after Bangabandhu(Friend of Bengal) Sheikh Mujibur Rahman(Sheikh Mujib or Mujib), the ‘Father of the Nation of Bangladesh’.
- The award will be given from November 2021.The Prize will be established for an initial period of six years (2021-2027).
Purpose of the Prize
The prize will be given once in 2 years( biennially) to the youth or to exceptional initiatives of an institution or an entity or non-governmental organization for their outstanding global economic initiatives to develop a creative economy.
Note– The proposal for the prize was made by the People’s Republic of Bangladesh(Bangladesh).
Gist about the Prize:
General Info
It will create a mechanism of knowledge sharing by capturing, celebrating and communicating best practice in the development of creative entrepreneurship.
Funding & Management
UNESCO fully manages and administers the prize. The prize will be funded by Bangladesh.
Contributes to UNESCO’s Strategy and SDG
i.The prize contributes to the following:
- Strategic Objective 8 of UNESCO’s Medium-term Strategy 2014-2021
- UNESCO Priority Gender Equality Action Plan 2014-2021
- UNESCO Operational Strategy on Youth (2014-2021)
ii.It will also contribute to 3 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely, Goal 4-quality education, Goal 5- Gender Equality, Goal 8- Decent Work and Economic growth.
Points to be Noted
i.UNESCO has declared 2021 as ‘International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development’.
ii.Since 1951, 23 prizes of UNESCO have been awarded to projects that offer sustainable solutions to the global challenges of gender equality, the fight against poverty, access to quality and inclusive education, climate change monitoring and cultural diversity for a culture of peace.
About Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman:
i.Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman(17 March 1920 – 15 August 1975) was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the first president and later as the Prime minister of the Bangladesh until his assassination.
ii.UNESCO recognises his speech as part of the world’s documentary heritage on 30th October 2017
iii.There is an avenue named after him in Ankara, Turkey.
‘Swadhinata Sarak’ between Bangladesh and India to be opened on 26th March, 2021
i.Dr. A K Abdul Momen, foreign minister of Bangladesh stated that the ‘SwadhinataSarak’ between Bangladesh and India will be opened on 26th March, 2021.
ii.The road will remain functional on the Indian side while it will be connected through Mujibnagar, Meherpur district in Bangladesh.
Chilahati-Haldibari Rail Link to be Inaugurated in December 2020
During the virtual summit that will be held on December 17, 2020 between Prime Ministers(PMs) of Bangladesh and India, the Chilahati-Haldibari rail link, which was active till 1965 will be inaugurated.
Recent Related News:
On 24th September 2020, Kerala won the UN Interagency Task Force (UNIATF)Award 2020 for its contribution towards the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) related to the non-communicable diseases.
About Bangladesh(Officially the People’s Republic of Bangladesh):
Capital-Dhaka
Currency– Bangladeshi taka
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO):
Director General– Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
Members– 193 member states(including India) and 11 Associate Members
