A memorial program to commemorate the life of Abinta Kabir – a victim of the Holey Artisan tragedy in July 2016 – was held yesterday in a hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Organized by Abinta’s family, the program was attended by her friends, well-wishers, acquaintances, teachers, and family members as well as eminent educationists, senior civil society members, and retired diplomats.
The ‘Abinta Kabir Foundation’ was launched in this program. The Foundation was established by her family to fulfill the dream of Abinta, which was to help the underprivileged children of her country to get educated and become useful members of the society. Her ambition was to open an NGO to this end.
Abinta Kabir
An excerpt in Abinta’s diary, discovered after her demise, says, “…I care about the people and one of my goals that I mentioned in the blueprint is to open an NGO in Bangladesh… Also, I believe that my culture and nationality are a huge part of who I am. Coming from Bangladesh, which is a developing nation, I feel as though it is my duty to help my country even if it is through a small contribution.”
A book entitled ‘An intimate portrait of Abinta Kabir’ and a website- www.abintafoundation.org – was also launched, which will give its readers and the visitors a deep insight into the world of a young girl whose life was cut short at the tender age of nineteen.
A documentary depicting the brief but remarkable life of Abinta Kabir was also screened for the attending guests. A display of her handwritten notes and letters was also showcased.
Abinta Kabir was a bright student who was full of promises and would surely have contributed to the social development of Bangladesh had she been alive. We lost a gem in her untimely demise.
Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, US Ambassador to Bangladesh, who was present among the guests at the program, said, ‘Abinta was a promising young woman going to one of the best universities in the USA, and she could have gone on to do anything with her life that she chose to do. She had the drive to make the world and Bangladesh, in particular, a better place. However, even in her absence, she is making the world a better place. Please let us join together to make the world a better place Abinta dreamed it can be.’
Along with other guests Italian Ambassador Mario Palma was also present at the event. This event was held with the intention of completing her unfinished dreams.
