Fazle Abed was drawn into philanthropic activities after a cyclone hit Bangladesh in 1970. He took measures to provide relief to the victims of the disaster. After the Bangladesh-Pakistan partition, he returned from England to find his homeland drowned in poverty. This inspired the humanitarian to work in uplifting the country’s economy, and he formed ‘BRAC’, an organization devoted to his cause. This organization worked towards providing education, healthier living conditions and job opportunities to the less priviledged. As the organization grew, Fazle Abed reached out to people in other countries as well, eventually benefiting almost 130 million people across the world. The NGO also provides human rights support to people, advising them on legal matters, and educating them on the importance of development. In 2010, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for his extraordinary efforts to alleviate poverty and for empowering the poor not only in Bangladesh but across the globe. He earned a number of national and international awards and accolades, including the 'Laudato Si' Award,' the 'WISE Prize for Education,' the 'World Food Prize,' the 'LEGO Prize,' the 'Leo Tolstoy International Gold Medal,' the 'Spanish Order of Civil Merit,' and the 'Thomas Francis, Jr Medal in Global Public Health' among various others.