Md. Mafiz Uddin Sarker, Rangpur

With the spreading of news of Sheikh Hasina's resignation and leaving the country, since afternoon on Monday, thousands of men and women from all walks of life and the students of anti-discrimination Movement Rangpur metropolis and various upazilas, unions of the district came out from home with victory processions ignoring the torrential rain and the city became uproarious with slogans. The ordinary Muslims offered prayers of thanksgiving.

There was very little crowding in the city during curfew since morning. However, if the presence of army, BGB and police on the roads of the city decreases after 12 o'clock, a kind of curiosity and apprehension is created among the people. Among them, people thronged the TV channels with suspicion on news of Army chief's speech to the nation and the news of several changes in the time of that speech.

At one point, as the news of Sheikh Hasina's resignation and leaving the country was broadcast on the screens of various TV channels, thousands of women, men and children came out from home different neighborhoods of Rangpur city and ignored the rain and participated in the victory procession on the main road. Millions of people from all walks of life flocked to it. Teachers, students, professionals and parents also joined this protest rally.

These victory processions came out from various place of Rangpur like Shapla Square, Grand Hotel Square, Press Club Square, Jahaj Company Square, Payra Square, City Bazar, Public Library Ground, Town Hall Square, Kachari Bazar Square, Zilla School Square, Lalkuthi Square, Medical College Hospital Square, CO Bazar and so on. Thousands of people from all walks of life also came out from important areas including Bazar Area, Army Check Post intersection, Central Bus Terminal Area, Darsana intersection, Mordern intersectio , Begum Rokey University, Park intersection, Shaheed Abu Sayeed Chatter, Lalbagh, Tajhat, Sat Matha , Mahiganj etc. This scene was seen everywhere including Mithapukur, Pirganj, Pirgacha, Kaunia, Gangachra, Taraganj, Badarganj and Sadar upazilas of the district.

Students of various educational institutions including schools, colleges, Madrasas, Begum Rokeya University and technical started gathering at this time. Meanwhile, parents, professionals, lawyers and teachers started participating in this movement in solidarity. In the afternoon, a huge victory procession came out and circled the main thoroughfare. The law enforcing agencies were seen keeping a safe distance.

In the rally, the students demanded 9-point demands, including fair trial of all the murders of the student Abu Sayeed, who was shot by the police, and the release of all the students arrested in the movement. The parents said that our children have come to the field with their just demands.

Many have been killed. Many are injured in hospitals and homes. Many are living their days in fear. We cannot stay at home as parents. Therefore, we also stand by the students' logical movement. Sheikh Hasina's resignation has been an initial victory for our children.