Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman has been honoured with the Central Bank Governor of the Year-Asia Pacific, 2015 award by the Banker magazine.

The Banker magazine is owned by London-based Financial Times. Brian Caplen, chief editor of the Banker, presented the award at a ceremony in the House of Lords on Friday.

Rahman was given the award for his contribution to promoting socially and environmentally responsible financing in Bangladesh without compromising macroeconomic stability, BB said in a press release quoting The Banker.

“Rahman, through his pioneering work, has managed to include farmers in the formal financial system, who previously had limited or no access to the financial market,” said Lord Mohamed Sheikh who chaired the award ceremony. Sheikh also applauded the gains made by the Bangladesh economy where Governor Rahman played a strategic role.                                                         

“What impressed the editors with Rahman's performance was not only what we expect from a central bank governor such as controlling inflation and ensuring stable economic conditions, but also his unique and interesting ideas which contributed to social good in Bangladesh,” Caplen said.

Rushanara Ali, a Bangladesh-origin British lawmaker, and Md Abdul Hannan, Bangladesh's high commissioner to the UK, also spoke on the occasion.

In November last year, Rahman received the 'GUSI Peace Prize International 2014' in recognition of his work in establishing peace by reducing poverty in Bangladesh.