CIRDAP in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC), Thailand organized the Award ceremony of the Aziz-ul-Haq Rural Development Medals as part of the opening ceremony of the 24th Session of CIRDAP Governing Council (GC-24) Meeting on 6th June, 2024. The award ceremony held at the Alpha Square Room, Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, Bangkok, Thailand. Dr. Cherdsak Virapat, Director General, CIRDAP welcomed all the Governing Council & the Executive Committee members of CIRDAP; Ambassadors & diplomatic mission in Thailand; awardees of the Aziz-Ul Haq Rural Development Medals, and distinguished participants, etc
The opening ceremony was addressed by the Chairperson of the CIRDAP Governing Council, H.E. Mr. Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, The Honorable Deputy Minister on behalf of the Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Royal Thai Government.
In 2024, CIRDAP honored three individuals and 10 organizations for their outstanding achievements and contributions to integrated rural development in their respective countries. These awardees have contributed to improve the livelihoods of the marginalized rural people by reducing poverty and increasing food security in their countries.
The recipients of 2024 Aziz-ul-haq rural development medal are Phrakru Suchinnanthakit, Thailand; Mr. Banjong Sanyamoon, Thailand; H.E. Dr. Plodprasop Suraswadi, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand (2012 – 2014).And the organizations are Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Kuwait; Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), Philippines; Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish Foundation (BSFF), Bangladesh; Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), Bangladesh; Cooperative Auditing Department (CAD), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand; Department of Fisheries (DOF), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand; Institute for Poverty Research and Management (InsPek), Malaysia; Mekong Institute (MI); Southern Shan State Department of Rural Development, Myanmar; and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
In 2021, the Governing Council of CIRDAP approved the establishment of the Aziz-Ul Haq Rural Development Medal in memory of the late Mr. Aziz-Ul Haq, the first Director of CIRDAP and the Former Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Bangladesh. CIRDAP awarded its first ‘Aziz- ul- Haq Rural Development Medal – 2021 to H.E. Sheikh Hasina, MP, the Honorable Prime Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. On May 29, 2022 at Gonobhaban, Bangladesh.
