Could a gift remove barriers to an LSE education?
The value Mr Rezaur Rahman placed on widening access to education was central to his contribution to his family and to society. In Bangladesh, he established the AF Mujibur Rahman Foundation in 1985, named after his father who excelled in Mathematics, to support higher education in Mathematics and basic sciences in the country and, additionally, to promote basic education among those who face discrimination. In the UK, he contributed for many years to an annual award, through the Bangladesh High Commission, for young Bangladeshi students who achieved outstanding grades at school.
At LSE, a new scholarship in his memory is providing funding for postgraduate students from Bangladesh, or of Bangladeshi origin, regardless of financial background.
The scholarship has given new ground to my old dreams. After I spent five years working in the disaster management and development sector in Bangladesh, I realised it was essential for me to get an academic degree on this theme, and my master’s course at LSE checked all the requirements. I need academic and professional experience, I need networks to reach my desired level to serve my country and the world. Covid-19 has drastically changed my life, but I cannot express my gratitude enough for this opportunity, and I will keep pushing my barriers till I can make a difference to this world.
“My uncle knew of LSE’s reputation, independently of the fact that some of his nieces studied here, and he regarded the School very highly. Just as the Foundation in Bangladesh can be seen as an acknowledgement of his association with the country in which he was born and grew up, I think his donation to LSE is an acknowledgement of the country he and his wife chose to make their home, where they both died and where they are both buried.”
“He went about his philanthropy without fuss, never seeking any publicity for his efforts. That said, his contribution to education in the UK and Bangladesh means that students from both these countries will remember and appreciate him.”
Professor Naila Kabeer, Professor of Gender and Development,
Department of Gender Studies and the Department of International Development,
on the legacy gift left by her uncle
.