HONOUR for a young hero

Mother, brother of Faraaz receive Mother Teresa Award for his bravery during Gulshan cafe attack

The bravery and selflessness he showed with death staring him in the face is a source of inspiration for people across the globe.

During the July 1 terror attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, 20-year-old Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain refused to desert his friends and was brutally killed by the terrorists.

His sacrifice is now being recognised all over the world.

Yesterday, he was posthumously awarded Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice 2016 at a ceremony at the JW Marriott, Sahar, Mumbai.

araaz's mother Simeen Hossain and elder brother Zaraif Ayaat Hossain received the award at the main banquet hall of the hotel. Everyone present at the programme stood up and welcomed the mother and son with a round of applause.

Former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai and Mother Teresa's disciple Sister Priscilla handed over the award to Simeen and Zaraif.

This is the first time the Harmony Foundation gave the award to a foreign hero posthumously.

Earlier this month, the Harmony Foundation named Faraaz, son of Simeen and Muhammad Waquer Bin Hossain, for the prestigious award.

Receiving the award, Simeen said, "I wanted to raise my son as a good human being.

“Faraaz did not leave his friends, the people he loved, and he did not act like a coward.”

The audience burst into applause, as she said, "For you, Faraaz, I am the proudest mother in this world."

Faraaz was the grandson of Transcom Group Chairman Latifur Rahman and Shahnaz Rahman.