Emory University honours Faraaz Hossain

Goizueta Business School of Emory University, USA, has listed Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain as a graduate, posthumously, at the institution’s graduation ceremony this year.

The university has also introduced an award in Faraaz’s name - the Faraaz Hossain Core Values Award.

Gurbani Singh is the first student to win this award, according a communique.

After graduating from Emory University’s Oxford School in 2015, Faraaz began his studies at the university’s Goizueta Business School.

While home on vacation, Faraaz was killed in a brutal militant attack at the Holey Artisan restaurant in Dhaka's Gulshan area on 1 July 2016.

He could have escaped from the massacre, but instead refused to abandon his two friends who were there with him, and chose to stand by them even in the face of death.

Faraaz has already become synonymous with courage and friendship, an inspiration around the globe.

Faraaz is the grandson of the chairman and CEO of Transcom Group, Latifur Rahman, and Shahnaz Rahman, and the son of Simeen Hossain and Waquer Hossain. He was affectionately called Chotoo by his family.

In honour of Faraaz, a tree was planted in the Garden of the Righteous Worldwide, located inside the Italian Embassy in Tunis, on 15 July 2016. The Garden, set up by a Milan-based organisation in cooperation with the Italian foreign ministry, hosts trees and memorial stones dedicated to Muslim individuals who have courageously stood up against fanaticism.

Faraaz was also awarded the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for 2016. He is the first person to be conferred this award posthumously.

Also in memory of Faraaz, PepsiCo launched the annual Faraaz Hossain Courage Award from 2016, to be awarded each year for 20 years. This award is bestowed upon individuals displaying exceptional courage and empathy for fellow human beings. It aims to encourage and inspire the spirit of bravery among the Bangladesh youth.

As the second anniversary of his death comes around on 1 July, Faraaz remains a shining symbol of friendship and bravery the world over.