A Bangladeshi who founded a bank geared to the poor became the first recipient of Jordan's King Hussein Humanitarian Leadership Award on Tuesday, which would have been the late king's 65th birthday.
Hussein's son King Abdullah II presided over the ceremony to bestow the 50,000-dollar award on Muhammad Yunus, whose Grameen Bank is owned by the Bangladeshi poor and directs loans to poor people.
Yunus, who was represented at the ceremony by the Grameen Trust's assistant general manager Lamia Murshid, has also worked to set up a system of village government that focuses on the participation of rural people.
Hussein's widow Queen Noor said the award was meant "to recognize and support dedicated efforts to promote sustainable development, human rights, tolerance, equity and peace."
The late king's "profound faith and humanitarians vision guided all his efforts," she said.
Hussein died from cancer in February 1999 after 47 years on the throne -- AMMAN (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
