Dhaka: BRAC founder and Chairperson Sir Fazle Hasan Abed has been awarded World Food Prize, 2015 on Friday at a ceremony held at the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.

This highly prestigious prize was conferred to him for his outstanding contribution to enhancing the world’s production and distribution of food to those most in need, said in a press release of BRAC.

The chairman of The World Food Prize John Ruan III handed over the award to Sir Fazle at the event which was the centrepiece of a three-day international symposium.

This prize which often referred as the Nobel Prize for food and agriculture also includes USD 250,000.

Receiving the award Sir Fazle said, ‘I must acknowledge that the award does not belong to me alone, it is the recognition of BRAC’s work over the last 43 years in providing pathways out of poverty for millions of people in Bangladesh and other countries in Africa and Asia.’

Guests and dignitaries present at the ceremony included US secretary of agriculture Tom Vilsack, president of World Food Prize Foundation Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, president of Iowa senate Honourable Pam Jochum, speaker of Iowa house Honourable Linda Upmeyer.

Former president of republic of Malawi and founder of the Joyce Banda Foundation Joyce Banda was present as distinguished special guest of honour. The ceremony was presided by the governor of Iowa Terry Branstad.