It is often said that only a true hero emerges in the face of hard times. One such hero was Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, a 20-year-old, who lost his life in the Holey Artisan Bakery terrorist attack in Dhaka on July 1.
While the world still wonders in horror, what levels the humanity has stooped to, Hossain stands out as an inspiration that would continue to reaffirm our faith in mankind, when hit with difficult times.
Faraaz with his friend Tarish Jain. Image Source: The New Indian Express
According to a report in Indian Express, it is believed that Hossain may have sacrificed his life as he did not want to leave his two friends behind. This detail was revealed during the questioning of the hostages, who were rescued.
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The report quoting sources said, "Faraaz was given the option of leaving on Friday night, July 1. Since Tarishi and Abinta (his friends) were wearing western clothes, the terrorists asked Faraaz where they were from. He reportedly told them that they were from India and the US — but while Abinta was studying in the US, she was a Bangladeshi citizen."
He, along with two of his friends went out for dinner at Holey Artisan, when several terrorists attacked the place and took the life of the youth.
Hossain was the grandson of Latifur Rahman, Chairman of Transcom and was among the 20 hostages killed in the terrorist attack.
Son of Simeen Hossain, Managing Director, Eskayef Bangladesh Limited, and Muhammad Waquer Bin Hossain, Faraaz was completing his undergraduate studies at the Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
He had only come to Dhaka on May 18 with an intent of spending the summer holidays.
Hossain had just completed his internship with Kolkata in Pepsico, only a few days before the horror that broke out on Friday, reported Indian Express.
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His elder brother Zaraif described him as "extremely sensitive towards other" person and always "careful" about how his actions would affect those around him.
Mahfuz Anam, the editor of The Daily Star, told The Indian Express, "This incident has struck us closer home because one of our family members have lost their child. My daughter, Tahmima, who is a writer, goes there (Holey Artisan bakery) very often… it is one of the quietest places in town. It is really sad that something like this has happened."
20 hostages were hacked to death by suspected ISIS militants inside a bakery. Branded as the worst terror attack in Bangladesh, most of those killed were found with their throats slit. Islamic State group had taken responsibility for the attack through its Amaq news agency, nearly four hours after the hostage crisis unraveled.
Commandos launched an assault on the terrorists, killing six and capturing one alive.
The government, however, blames "homegrown" militant groups and Pakistan's spy agency ISI for the attack, out rightly rejecting the involvement of the Islamic State.
-This article is modified by Bulbul, a staff-writer at NewsGram.
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