Seven years have passed since the tragic militant attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, yet the memory of the late assistant commissioner Rabiul Karim remains as vivid as ever.
To honor his legacy, the people of Manikganj, including his family and Beaconing Light Organisation of Mankind and Society (BLOOMS), a school the late AC had founded to provide education to children with disabilities, continue to organize several programs in his memory.
On Saturday, a rally was held in Katigram of Manikganj and a memorial meeting was held in Basai village.
The rally was attended by teachers and students of BLOOMS, local residents, and friends and family of Rabiul. Later they paid respects at Rabiul's grave.
Shamsuzzaman Shams, the younger brother of the late AC Rabiul, said: “We lost our brother on this day in 2016. From a place of responsibility for people, he established this school for children with disabilities. He wanted to build an old age home and residential building for children. He sacrificed his life while saving people from the hands of militants. His sacrifice is our pride and glory. His incomplete work should be completed.”
Dhaka TribuneLater, he appealed for assistance from both the government and private corporations to support the school's operations.
Shams mentioned that they are presently facing challenges in meeting the salaries of the school's teachers, yet despite this difficulty, none of them have resigned from their positions.
“Everyone should stand by the school and take it forward. Only then will Rabiul's dream survive,” Shams added.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Branch's assistant commissioner Rabiul Karim died on July 1, 2016, while trying to foil a terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Cafe in Gulshan.
He left behind his wife Salma, who was then 8-months pregnant, and Sami, who is now a teenager.
Officer-in-Charge of Banani police station Salauddin Khan, and 20 hostages, including 17 foreign nationals, were killed in the attack.
The terrorists were killed in a commando operation the next morning after a 12-hour standoff.
