The family of Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, a young man whose life was tragically cut short during the terror attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, Dhaka two years ago, is trying to keep his memories and passions alive through the “Faraaz Hossain Foundation.”
The non-profit foundation, launched in December, 2017, aims to bring smiles to the less fortunate, to help build future leaders and spread Faraaz's values of courage, friendship and humanity throughout Bangladesh, said foundation officials.
The foundation works primarily with two long-term goals - helping the physically disabled through the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP), and by conducting eye-screening campaigns for the poor.
Faraaz had worked closely with the CRP, and to keep his work alive, the foundation has joined forces with the CRP to help disabled people gain the skills to become productive members of society.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Binoy Das, secretary general of Faraaz Hossain Foundation said: “The first steps are to help develop new spaces for the organization within their premises and to build a state-of-the-art Faraaz Center to help enrich the experience of those currently under the care of CRP.
“The CRP presently offers various benefits to physically challenged children's growth and extra care at the CRP center, and conducts different activities for their skill development. The centre is open, but the official launch is scheduled to take place in the first week of July this year.”
Binoy also serves as the marketing manager of Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd.
The foundation also organizes free eye-screening campaigns in different areas throughout Dhaka for identifying and treating visually impaired underprivileged people who cannot afford the treatment.
So far, the foundation has held two such camps and provided surgeries and eyeglasses for patients with cataract and refractive errors, completely free of cost if the patients are ultra poor.
The foundation also engages in short-term humanitarian efforts.
The Faraaz Hossain Foundation has provided 12 trucks of 15,000 relief packages of food, clothing, blankets, and medicine to 15,000 Rohingya refugees. It also provided winter clothes to poor people in northern Bangladesh during the recent winter season.
‘Irrepressible sense of affection’
Discussing the activities of the foundation, Binoy said: “In line with Faraaz’s irrepressible sense of affection for humanity regardless of nationality, race, and gender, the Faraaz Hossain Foundation has been established.
“The aim of this foundation is to carry forward the ideals of Faraaz, through working with all its concerned stakeholders, for fellow human beings, and hence to bring harmony and equality in society.”
He added that the foundation has plans to work for leadership development programs in the future.
Faraaz was a student at Emory University's Goizueta Business School in the USA. He was the son of Simeen and Muhammad Waquer Bin Hossain and grandson of Transcom Group Chairman Latifur Rahman and Shahnaz Rahman.
