Featured In
Floating hospitals transforming climate-vulnerable communities
Rolex Awards / Global Development Platforms
Coverage of Friendship’s floating hospital innovation serving Bangladesh’s char communities.
Read Full Article
Social Impact & Welfare
Runa Khan
Founder & Executive Director, Friendship NGO
Dhaka Bangladesh
About
Runa Khan is a Bangladeshi humanitarian leader and founder of Friendship NGO, established in 2002 to serve climate-vulnerable and marginalised communities in Bangladesh’s riverine char regions.
She pioneered an integrated development model combining mobile healthcare, education, climate resilience, women’s economic empowerment, legal access, and cultural preservation under a unified operational ecosystem.
Friendship operates floating hospitals, solar-powered schools, disaster-response platforms, and community-owned enterprises in hard-to-reach areas.
Her systems-based humanitarian model is recognised internationally as a replicable framework for climate adaptation and dignity-based development.
22+
Years Experience
1
Projects Led
Govt & NGO
Collaborations
4
Awards Won
Achievements & Awards
2006
Rolex Awards for Enterprise Laureate
Recognised by the Rolex Awards for pioneering floating hospitals serving isolated river communities.
2012
Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year
Honoured by the Schwab Foundation (World Economic Forum platform) for scalable social innovation.
Ashoka Fellow
Selected as an Ashoka Fellow for system-changing humanitarian leadership.
IDB Women’s Contribution to Development Award
Recognised by the Islamic Development Bank for impactful development leadership.
Jury Member Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity
Appointed jury member for the international Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity focused on climate solutions.
Ventures & Companies
Friendship NGO
Founder & Executive Director•2002–Present
International development organisation delivering integrated healthcare, education, disaster response, economic empowerment, legal services and climate adaptation programs in climate-vulnerable regions of Bangladesh and beyond.
Media & Speaking
Featured talks, interviews, and podcast appearances from Runa Khan.
Rolex Awards Laureate Profile Runa Khan
Rolex Awards for Enterprise•2006
Articles & Publications
About Runa Khan
Runa Khan is a Bangladeshi humanitarian leader and founder of Friendship NGO, established in 2002 to serve climate-vulnerable and marginalised communities in Bangladesh’s riverine char regions....
She pioneered an integrated development model combining mobile healthcare, education, climate resilience, women’s economic empowerment, legal access, and cultural preservation under a unified operational ecosystem.
Friendship operates floating hospitals, solar-powered schools, disaster-response platforms, and community-owned enterprises in hard-to-reach areas.
Her systems-based humanitarian model is recognised internationally as a replicable framework for climate adaptation and dignity-based development.
Professional Experience
Founder & Executive Director at Friendship NGO
International development organisation delivering integrated healthcare, education, disaster response, economic empowerment, legal services and climate adaptation programs in climate-vulnerable regions of Bangladesh and beyond.
Connect with Runa
© 2026 People's Directory. All rights reserved.