Faraaz, not militants, symbol of Bangladesh

Speakers at programmes in Mymensingh and Sylhet on Friday recalled the rare sacrifice of Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, the 20-year-old youth who embraced martyrdom in a bid to save his friends, held hostage by terrorists inside Holey Artisan Bakery in the capital's Gulshan on July 1.

Mymensingh Sahitya Sangsad, a community study circle that has long been central to the town's intellectual and social life, organised a discussion in memory of Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain on Friday.

At regular meetings of the circle, participants discuss topics as varied as literature, politics, war, and even the national budget.

In light of the recent Gulshan and Sholakia terrorist attacks it was inevitable that for the circle's recently held 1690th meeting a related topic would prevail. But instead of focusing on mourning the victims or the sense of shame and despair that lingers nationwide, the circle chose for their topic the beacon of hope to be found in the brave self-sacrifice of Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain.

Faraaz was the grandson of Transcom Group's Chairman Latifur Rahman and Shahnaz Rahman, and son of Simeen Hossain and Muhammad Waquer Bin Hossain.

As is widely known, on the fateful night of first July, Faraaz, though permitted by the terrorists to leave the Holey Artisan Bakery, chose instead to stay with his two foreign friends, a choice that ensured his death.

The title of the discussion was “Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain: By sacrificing your life, you saved us; the true Bangladesh is not in the example of the militants, but in your example.”

“After the Gulshan attack,” said Yazdani Qureshi, general secretary of the study circle, “when the national image internationally is on the wane, when our heads are bowed in shame, Faraaz offers us a new chance to dream. His sacrifice proves that militancy and terrorism are not the face of Bangladesh.”

“Though the Gulshan attack has given immense pain,” said the study circle's president, poet and journalist Ashiq Chowdhury, “Faraaz has made us victorious over darkness. He has shown us the true path towards light.”

“At this time when Bangladesh is deeply disturbed by the terrorist activities of a few youths who went astray, it is another youth, Faraaz, who rekindles our spirit,” said lawyer Badruddin Ahmed. “Now is the time to challenge evil. Political and social commitment is needed to check militancy. All the political and social forces of good must stand united in this task.”

“Our greatest work now,” added lawyer Moazzem Hossain, who referred to Faraaz as a martyr, “is to make our young generation vocal against militancy. This is a task that we have started from Mymensingh.”

A correspondent reports from Sylhet:

Cultural organisation Nagarnat arranged songs and dramas at the central Shaheed Minar in the city on Friday, at an event titled “Come, Let's Sow Courage from Heart to Heart,” to protest the Gulshan killings.

The event began with a rendition of “You will return again to make flower buds bloom,” a song written following the murder of science-based writer and blogger Ananta Bijoy Das on May 12, 2015, in Sylhet.

Songs were performed by artistes Arup Baul, Arifa Khatun, Tanveer Hasan and Aparup Dutta. Several youths spoke against militancy. An anti-militancy drama, “Adam Test” written by Masum Reza and directed by Arup Baul was also staged.

“Resistance to militancy must be built up through cultural awakening,” said Nagarnat's president, Arup Das, at the event.

The victims of the July 1 Gulshan attack were solemnly remembered and Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain was heralded as a symbol of great courage.

Speakers expressed the sentiment that in Sylhet, people's eyes are filled with tears at the thought of the brutal Gulshan killings, but that one of the victims, our Faraaz, showed through his valiant deed a soul which could conquer even death.