By Md Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, Aug 2, 2025 (BSS) - On August 3, 2024, Rangpur city became the epicenter of massive protests, when thousands of students, teachers, parents, lawyers and socio-cultural activists took out marches demanding the fascist Hasina's resignation.

 They demanded the immediate release of all arrested students and innocent people, reopening of all educational institutions, resignation of MPs and ministers who made provocative comments and capital punishment of those involved in the loss of lives.

During the protest march, important places throughout the city were filled with various slogans written in red ink on white paper, in Bengali and English.

Expressing solidarity with students and public, Rangpur's cultural activists lit candles in memory of the martyrs of the movement and protested against attacks, shootings, lawsuits, torture and mass arrests on students and public.

Students, guardians, lawyers, businessmen, volunteers and people from different classes and professions also participated in this programme held at the Central Shaheed Minar on August 3 evening. 

Cultural activists with others, standing at the Central Shaheed Minar's altar, sang various slogans and performed patriotic songs. 

Standing there, the protesters lit candles and mobile lights, played patriotic songs and observed a minute of silence. They raised various slogans and announced that everyone would be present at the same place again on August 4 at 4 pm.

Earlier, the anti-discrimination student movement brought out a massive protest march against killings, attacks, shootings, lawsuits, torture, and mass arrests on students and the general public and to achieve the 9-point demands or one-point demand at 11:30 am. 

In this march, thousands of teachers, lawyers, guardians, socio-cultural activists and people from different classes and professions joined the general students of various public and private educational institutions. 

The protest march started in the rain from in front of the Rangpur Press Club. 

Earlier, students from Rangpur Zilla School, Government College, Carmichael College, Government Begum Rokeya College, Government City College, Police Lines School and College, Lions School and College, Polytechnic Institute, Cantonment Public School and College, Government Girls' High School, Rangpur Medical College, Begum Rokeya University and other institutions, defying the rain and facing searches at various security checkpoints in the city, gathered in front of the Press Club. 

Students from various universities, which had been closed indefinitely, were also seen participating in the protest along with their parents in solidarity with the students. 

From the Press Club premises, the students left for the protest procession at around 12 noon. The entire area became abuzz with slogans. 

The procession passed through the city's Jahaz Company intersection, Paira Chattar, Nagar Bhaban, Town Hall intersection, Kachari Bazar, DC intersection, Lalkuthi Mour, Check Post, Medical intersection, Dhap At-tola Mosque intersection and walked for about six kilometers to end in front of Rangpur Town Hall and took the oath there.

At the same time, they called on people from all walks of life to participate in the previously announced nationwide 'total non-cooperation' program from August 4 to force the fascist regime to resign. 

Some students, who participated in the protest, said that as long as the regime did not accept their demands, as long as there is no justice for their brothers who were martyred, the movement would continue.

They said that they would stay on the field until fascist Sheikh Hasina would bring killers of their martyred brothers under the law of the land. They wanted an account of their martyred brothers' blood.

They said that in a country where the ruler gave orders to shoot students indiscriminately. Such a ruler has no right to remain in power and must resign. 

Advocate Jobaidul Islam Bullet, who was at the front of the procession then said that the fascist regime had committed the most infernal murder in the history of the world, genocide. 

He said that the way students, including children, had been shot dead. This was a crime against humanity. The way children were being arrested. No one with a little conscience in the country would accept this. The fascism must go.

The guardians said that their children had taken to the streets with just demands. Many had been killed. Many were injured and suffering in hospitals and homes. Many were living in fear. So, they also stood by the students in their logical movement.

Meanwhile, as part of the fascist regime's attempt to cover up, two policemen were dismissed on August 3, 2024, for their alleged involvement in the death of martyr Abu Sayed, a student of Begum Rokeya University. 

The dismissed policemen were ASI Amir Hossain of Rangpur Police Lines and Constable Sujan Chandra Roy of Tajhat Police Station. 

Police officers of the then fascist regime's Rangpur Metropolitan Police said that the reason for the dismissal was that they fired from their shotguns for 'unprofessional behavior'. 

They were negligent in their duties and disobeyed the lawful orders of higher authorities.

However, student coordinators and local people have termed the dismissal order as an attempt by the fascist regime to cover up the murder of martyr Abu Sayed to divert attention.

Recalling the situation of August 3 in Rangpur city, Begum Rokeya University student coordinator and fellow fighter of martyr Abu Sayed, Shamsur Rahman Suman told BSS today that the fall of the fascist regime was only a matter of time. 

It was becoming clear that the anti-discrimination student movement had begun to take shape into a mass movement with the participation of thousands of people from all walks of life, which marked the beginning of the countdown to the fascist regime, he added.