The prestigious UNESCO-Hamdan Award has come to Bangladesh for the first time in recognition of outstanding contribution to teacher development and quality education in schools under the Good Neighbors Bangladesh (GNB) education programme. M. Mainuddin Mainul, country director of Good Neighbors Bangladesh, accepted this prestigious award on behalf of Good Neighbors Bangladesh.

The award was presented at the World Teachers' Day and UNESCO-Hamdan Prize distribution ceremony at the UNESCO headquarters last Friday (October 4). The awards are organized every two years by UNESCO to highlight innovative practices that significantly improve the quality of teaching and learning worldwide. This year, out of nearly 300 applicants, UNESCO nominated 10 organizations from around the world for the award.

Commenting on the award, M Mainuddin Mainul said, this achievement is a great recognition for our hard working teachers who fight against all discrimination, injustice and inadequacy. Bangladesh is fighting against child marriage and child labour. It is not only the civil society's fight, but the whole of Bangladesh including INGOs. Many thanks to UNESCO and Hamdan Foundation for joining us in this fight.

He said this is a great recognition and this achievement calls for greater responsibility by empowering teachers through capacity building for rights-based education in the 21st century.