We went to the BRAC office in Mohakhali and I still remember this bubbly young person hardly in her twenties, but who impressed me so much with her wonderful personality that I still remember that morning.

After that meeting I met her several time and always found her to be smiling and with an attitude that is not just friendly but very genuine. Her simplicity in both attire and make up was most appealing. Be it at a formal dinner or in the streets protesting some wrong-doing she looked and dressed most elegantly -- simple cotton saree and a beautiful big teep.

I never had the good fortunate of working with her or knowing her socially to belong to her circle of friends. But her death somehow makes me feel I have lost someone very close to me. Last night when I rushed to the hospital after hearing the news and saw a big crowd I knew that I wasn't the only one who was pulled there by the inner beauty of this wonderful person who had touched so many souls. For those who are most close to her, the family and friends, her demise is a great loss that is unimaginable to me.

In Nasreen, the nation has lost a young leader whose vacuum will be felt very soon. The time has come for the young to take over the helm of leadership from the older generation that we belong to. I saw Nasreen as one of them and I grieve for our loss, selfishly.