Bangladesh’s Runa Khan wins prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award

Runa Khan, founder of Bangladeshi development organisation Friendship, has won the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award, widely regarded as Asia’s premier leadership honour.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced the recipients in Manila on Monday (August 31), marking the opening of the 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Festival. The awards will be formally presented at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on November 15.

The foundation said this year’s laureates were recognised for work reflecting selfless service, creating opportunities for communities and enabling people to shape their own futures.

Khan founded Friendship and has spent decades working to improve the lives and livelihoods of disadvantaged communities in Bangladesh, particularly people living in remote, river-eroded and climate-vulnerable areas.

The organisation follows an integrated development approach covering areas including healthcare, education, livelihoods, disaster management and community empowerment.

The Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s premier leadership honour and has been presented since 1958 to individuals and organisations whose work addresses major human-development challenges and brings transformative change to communities.

The award was established in 1957 in memory of Ramon Magsaysay, the seventh president of the Philippines, who died in a plane crash that year. The first awards were presented on August 31, 1958.

Until 2008, the award was given in six categories, including government service, public service, community leadership, journalism and creative communication, peace and international understanding, and emergent leadership. Since 2009, it has generally been awarded without being restricted to specific categories, recognising outstanding contributions to human welfare and transformative leadership in Asia.

Khan’s recognition adds another major international honour to her work through Friendship. The organisation was also recognised in 2025 with the Earthshot Prize for its climate-focused work in Bangladesh.