Making Faraaz’s dream come true
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted everyone’s lives and livelihoods. Some have lost their jobs, others have lost their businesses. People of the lower income bracket have been hit the hardest. The Faraaz Hossain Foundation has come forward in these hard times to stand by these distressed people. With the help of Jaago Foundation, they have distributed rice, flour, lentils, oil and such essentials among over 6,000 persons.
Faraaz Hossain gave his life for humanity. This foundation established in his name is a reflection of his aspirations and dreams.
The entire country was stunned by the brutal militant attack on Holey Artisan Bakery on 1 July 2016. Many foreign nationals were killed in that attack and the news spread all over the world. And amid this darkness, Faraaz Hossain’s name was a ray of light, a light that has spread over the country and the world. His family has created the Faraaz Hossain Foundation in the name of this courageous young man. The foundation has been continually extending assistance to the distressed.
Over the past few years, Faraaz Foundation has been organising eye camps with the Distressed Children and Infants International (DCI). Over 8,000 people all over Bangladesh have received eye treatment through these camps.
Other than food distribution, Faraaz Hossain Foundation has been providing oxygen concentrators at a rural level at this time of the coronavirus pandemic.
Faraaz’s family could not imagine how tall Faraaz would stand in the global arena. In his memory, the foundation has joined hands with Jaago Foundation to start a fellowship programme. Twenty have been selected out of over 1000 applicants for leadership training. These young people will be given skills training and the opportunity for internship at the Transcom Group so that they may learn corporate ethics and behaviour.
Over the past few years, Faraaz Foundation has been organising eye camps with the Distressed Children and Infants International (DCI). Over 8,000 people all over Bangladesh have received eye treatment through these camps. One of these eye camps was organised in Rajshahi this January where over 900 people were treated. Eye checkups and cataract operations were carried out.
Pepsico Global has organised the largest event in Faraaz’s name. In 2016 they launched the Faraaz Hossain Courage Award to be bestowed for the next 20 years since then. The awardees receive a certificate and USD 10,000.
The Goizueta Business School of Emory University, USA, listed Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain as a graduate, posthumously, at the institution’s graduation ceremony in 2018. He had been killed two years before he could complete his graduation studies. This university in Atlanta, USA, introduced the ‘Faraaz Hossain Core Values Award’ in Faraaz’s memory. Also in memory of Faraaz Hossain and Abinta Kabir, a ‘Hossain-Kabir Room’ has been established in the university’s Oxford College campus. Yale University of the US has also honoured Faraaz Hossain for setting a model of humanity.
The Garden of the Righteous Worldwide plants trees and sets up memorial stones in the name of those who make significant contribution against terrorism and for humanity. Italy’s foreign ministry is involved in this Milan-based non-profit initiative. On 15 July 2016 this organisation planted trees and memorial stones dedicated to five individuals, including Faraaz. Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain of Bangladesh was the only non-Arab to receive this rare honour. Students of Rummo High School in Benevento, Italy, also planted a tree in Faraaz’s name in the Garden of Righteousness in their school.
Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain was the only one who spoke out in protest during the Holey Artisan attack. The attackers had told him, ‘you are a Muslim, you can go.’ But he did did not leave his friends in the face of death. By sacrificing his life he showed that the people of this country can give their lives for the sake of peace and tolerance.Abdul Mannan, deputy commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Unit
Faraaz Hossain was also bestowed with the Mother Teresa Award in recognition of his unique display of friendship. His mother Simeen Hossain and brother Zaraif Hossain accepted the award in Mumbai on his behalf.
All over Bangladesh there have been seminars and discussions about Faraaz and the example he has set. A football tournament was held in Shiliguri in Faraaz’s name. Faraaz Foundation, in collaboration with Jaago Foundation, has been running programmes for child education too.
A Faraaz Square was established at the Sirajul Islam Degree College in Boalkhali, Chattogram on 16 August 2016. A Nageswar tree sapling was planted there.
A Faraaz Hossain Centre has been opened up at Savar’s Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP). This centre is for the treatment and recreation of children with special needs. It has facilities for physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. Every day over 100 children are given treatment here. Three deans of Oxford College at Emory University, Dr Joseph Moon, Douglas A Hicks and Keven Smyrl came to attend the inauguration of this centre.
The pharmaceutical company Eskayef has named its new building at Cherag Ali in Tongi, the Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain Bhaban. Life-saving drugs are manufactured here.
The Faraaz Hossain Foundation continues to work for the people in distress. It has extended all sorts of assistance to over 20,000 Rohingyas refugees who have fled from oppression in Myanmar and taken refuge in Bangladesh. Speaking at a roundtable at the Prothom Alo office last year, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Unit, Abdul Mannan said, “Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain was the only one who spoke out in protest during the Holey Artisan attack. The attackers had told him, ‘you are a Muslim, you can go.’ But he did did not leave his friends in the face of death. By sacrificing his life he showed that the people of this country can give their lives for the sake of peace and tolerance.”