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The Comilla Rural Academy (formally known as the Pakistan Academy for Rural Development [PARD]) was established in 1958 at Comilla by Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan. The Academy got the patronage of the late President of Pakistan, Muhammad Ayub Khan, and was supported by the Ford Foundation, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Harvard University, Michigan State University, etc. Dr. Khan earned great respect in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) for his work. He became so popular that virtually every household in Comilla had his photograph.
After the creation of Bangladesh, the Academy was renamed the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD). The BARD has published, in many volumes, the writings of Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan. In 2004, the BARD celebrated its 45th Founding Anniversary. The following article was published in the Bangladesh Observer on June 1, 2004:
"COMILLA, May 31:–The 45th Founding Anniversary of Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) was celebrated here on Thursday, reports UNB.
Under the leadership of Dr Akhter Hameed Khan, a prominent social scientist, the academy started its journey on May 27, 1959 with a view to developing the condition of the distressed people living in the rural areas of the country.
Since its inception, the academy has conducted 600 research works focussed on rural development and poverty alleviation and has provided training to 1,60,000 people through 6,163 training courses.
Moreover, the academy has accomplished 48 action research projects and another 7 action research projects are now on-going..."
Source:
Bangladesh Observer
June 1, 2004
http://www.bangladeshobserveronline.com/new/2004/06/01/economic.htm
Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development
Kotbari, Comilla, Bangladesh
