Commemorating the first death anniversary of Manmeet Alisher, the Australian government today renamed a Brisbane park to ‘Manmeet Paradise’ in his honour.
Manmeet Alisher, also known as Manmeet Sharma, was letting passengers on board at a Moorooka bus stop when a man set him alight on October 28 last year.
Luxworth Place Park in Moorooka was rededicated as “Manmeet’s Paradise and Park” during an anniversary ceremony on Saturday afternoon.
The Brisbane City Council also arranged for a memorial to be unveiled during a small ceremony with the India-born driver’s family.
Bus drivers earlier gathered at the bus stop outside the Moorvale shopping centre where he was murdered, laying a wreath in his memory at the time of his death.
“Manmeet’s murder has had a profound impact on his fellow drivers, especially his friends at the Garden City Bus Depot,” the Rail, Train and Bus Union said.
A year on he is still sorely missed.
Mr Alisher was a well known in the Punjabi community and his death prompted a huge outpouring of grief.
Manmeet Alisher was remembered as a man filled with big dreams who moved to Brisbane from India.
Punjabi Welfare Association of Australia president Pinky Singh told ABC radio Mr Alisher came to Brisbane to start a new life with his family.
“He was very happy that was his dream,” Ms Singh said.
Prominent personalities of the society including Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham, Chairman of Brisbane Council Angila Owen, Member Parliament Brisbane, local Ministers, S. Manjinder Singh Sirsa General Secretary the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Mr. Winnerjit Singh Goldy former Vice Chairman PRTC and other prominent were present on the occasion.