1972: Certificate of CommendationGeneral Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani (M.A.G. Osmani, his name accompanies the title Bangabir), Commander-In-Chief of Bangladesh Forces during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, was awarded Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury with the Certificate of Commendation—For contributions during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

1974: Swedish Youth Peace Prize, Sweden—In recognition of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury’s role in founding Gonoshasthaya Kendra and the provision of primary health care to rural communities.

1977: Independence Award, Bangladesh (highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh)—Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury was awarded the “Independence Award” to recognize Gonoshasthaya Kendra’s innovative family planning and primary health care programs.

1981: Maulana Bhashani Award, Bangladesh—For Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury’s efforts in the health and family planning sector in Bangladesh.

1983: Donation to GK of one of the first ceramic vessels used to manufacture Penicillin—Dr. Norman George Heatley OBE, one of the pioneers of Penicillin manufacturing, donated one of the original ceramic Penicillin vessels (from the first six) to Gonoshasthaya Kendra. The other five vessels are preserved at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

1985: Ramon Magsaysay Award, Philippines (popularly known as the “Asian Nobel Prize”)—For Community Leadership, the Board of Trustees recognizes Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury’s engineering of Bangladesh’s new drug policy (NDP 1982), eliminating unnecessary pharmaceuticals, and making comprehensive medical care more available and affordable for ordinary citizens.

1989: Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan Memorial Award, Bangladesh—For special contributions to the health sector of Bangladesh.

1992: The Right Livelihood Award, Sweden (popularly known as the “Alternative Nobel Prize”)—In recognition of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury and Gonoshasthaya Kendra’s joint role in creating an outstanding record of promotion of health and human development.

2001: One World Action Award, United Kingdom—Award from One World Action, U.K.-based charity (closed in 2012).

2002: Public Health Heroes Award, United States (University of California, Berkeley, USA)—In recognition of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury for bringing health care to the underserved rural population in Bangladesh.

2007: Fr. Tong Memorial Award, India (Voluntary Health Association of India [VHAI])—Awarded to Gonoshasthaya Kendra with the seventh Fr. Tong Memorial Award for the outstanding community health professional for exemplary contribution to health and development. 

2009: Doctor of Humanitarian Sciences Award, Canada—Awarded to Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury from the World Organization of Natural Medicine, Canada.

Gonoshasthaya Kendra has received numerous other honors and awards to recognize the organization’s diverse people-oriented development activities and Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury’s role as a Freedom Fighter, social activist, and innovator in the fields of health care, education, women’s empowerment, advocacy, and disaster management, etc.