Dhaka, April 15 -- The development narrative of Bangladesh is often framed around prominent institutions and marquee initiatives. Yet, many consequential contributions come from organisations that operate behind the scenes, building systems that foster development. Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) is one such institution that has played a central role in financial inclusion, alleviating poverty, and rural development. Bestowing PKSF with the 2026 Independence Award (Shadhinata Puraskar), the country's highest civilian honour, acknowledges it as a transformative institution and a model of development leadership shaping progress.

Founded in 1990, PKSF was created as a national apex institution to channel support and funding to microfi...