Abinta Kabir Foundation, a non-profit organisation, yesterday inaugurated its office on Pragati Sarani in the capital.

The foundation aims to fulfil Abinta Kabir's dream of helping the underprivileged through various welfare projects all over the country.

Abinta was a 19-year-old undergraduate student at Emory University's Oxford College campus in Georgia, USA. On the night of July 1 last year, she and her two friends -- Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain of Emory and Indian national Tarishi Jain, a student of the University of California, Berkeley -- were killed along with 19 other hostages in a militant attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan.

During the inauguration ceremony, Manzur Morshed, Abinta's grandfather, said Abinta was involved in helping the needy and inspired children to enhance their creative endeavour. 

A section of the guests at the programme. Photo: Star

She wanted to come home in Bangladesh early so she could open an NGO for the underprivileged, he said.

Abinta Kabir Foundation has so far opened seven schools for underprivileged children -- two in Dhaka and five in Natore. It also has plans to set up old homes and health care facilities for the less fortunate.

Since Abinta was a sport enthusiast, the foundation also wishes to assist budding athletes.

Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said the smiley face of Abinta can be found in the students studying in Abinta Kabir Foundation Schools.

A kind-hearted Abinta will always be remembered by her family, friends and relatives as she was a role model for the young.

After the inauguration, visitors look at the memorabilia of Abinta on display in a corner of the office space. Abinta was killed during a terrorist strike in Gulshan's Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1 last year. Photo: Star

Choking back her tears, Abinta's mother Ruba Ahmed said she is proud of Abinta for her eagerness in working for social issues in Bangladesh.

The foundation has opened a cyber centre and archive at Dhaka University's Fine Arts faculty in Abinta's memory and it will provide financial assistance to students from Southeast Asian countries including Bangladesh for higher studies at Oxford College of Emory University in Georgia, USA, she also said.