Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and chair of BRAC, is to be knighted by the British crown for services in tackling poverty and empowering the poor in Bangladesh and globally. He is the first person of Bangladeshi origin to be so honoured since 1947. Abed receives his knighthood for his work spanning four decades in education, health, human rights and social development and for bringing financial services to the doorstep of millions of the poor in an effort to eradicate poverty in Bangladesh and countries in Asia and Africa.

Also in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List is John Kingston, founder director of Venturesome, the Charities Aid Foundation’s social investment arm, who has been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the voluntary sector.