Faraaz's sacrifice makes family proud

Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, one of the 22 victims killed in the Gulshan terrorist attack, represented values that made his family and relatives proud, his grandfather and Transcom Group Chairman Latifur Rahman said yesterday.

“He represented the true narrative of Islam. So we are extremely proud of him. He also elevated the dignity of Bangladesh,” he told the qulkhwani of Faraaz at his residence in Gulshan after Asr prayers.

Faraaz, 20, along with his friends -- Indian national Tarishi Jain, a student of the University of California, Berkeley, and Abinta Kabir, a Bangladeshi American -- was in the Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1 evening when armed militants stormed the restaurant and held people hostages.

Abinta, daughter of Ruba Ahmed, chairman of Elegant Group, and Faraaz were students at Emory University in Atlanta, and had come to Bangladesh during their summer holiday.

During the attack, militants had let Faraaz go, but not Abinta and Tarishi, but Faraaz refused to leave his friends behind and was eventually killed along with his friends and nine Italian and seven Japanese citizens inside the restaurant.

Faraaz was the grandson of Latifur Rahman and Shahnaz Rahman and son of Simeen Hossain and Muhammad Waquer Bin Hossain.

In the emotionally-charged occasion of the qulkhwani, Latifur said Faraaz was an outstanding boy from all aspects, and showed his special character at the moment of crisis and test.

Latifur Rahman said it was heard that the terrorist had let him go as he was a Muslim and Bangladeshi, but they refused to release two of his friends.

“We don't know how and why he took the decision in that situation,” he said and prayed for the eternal peace of all the victims.

Zaraif Ayaat Hossain, elder brother of Faraaz, said their mother always inspired them to be good human beings. The humanitarian sacrifice he made for friends has set a global example, he said.

Shah Syed Muradullah Ahmed, pir (spiritual guide) of Narinda, who conducted the prayers, said Faraaz's death was like that of a martyr.

Apart from family members and relatives of Faraaz, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, prime minister's advisers Dr Gowher Rizvi and Tawfique-e-Elahi Chowdhury, former caretaker government advisers Syed Manzur Elahi and Rokia Afzal Rahman, Prothom-Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar, Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan, former president of FBCCI AK Azad Chowdhury, businessmen Salman F Rahman, Mir Nasir Hossain, lawmaker Kazi Nabil Ahmed, rights activists Hameeda Hossain, Maleka Begum, and Khusi Kabir, BNP chairperson's adviser Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, former foreign secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra Zafrullah Chowdhury, and well wishers of Faraaz attended the qulkhwani.

Prayers for him were also held in different parts of the country, including at the offices of Transcom Group in Gazipur, Feni, Noakhali, and Faridpur.