As evening fell over Rangpur city, eight-year-old Al Amin would step out onto the streets with packets of popcorn in his hands. School by day, the hard grind of survival by night was the routine of his life – until last week.

The boy has now received an opportunity to study at Monno International School and College in Manikganj. Lt Col (retd) Zahirul Islam, the school's principal, wants to take personal responsibility for the boy's education after reading about him in a recent newspaper report.

Al Amin will study free of cost up to HSC level as a residential student. If he does well, there are plans to support him through university too, he said.

Al Amin lives with his elderly maternal grandparents – Nasir Uddin and Rabeya Khatun – in a small makeshift hut on abandoned railway land in the Muslimpara area near Rangpur Railway Station. His father, Sahidul Islam, died three years ago. His mother remarried. The grandparents are all he has now.

He was already attending Zoom Bangladesh School, which runs classes for street children near the railway station. But when his grandfather fell ill a year ago, Al Amin quietly took on the burden of the household.

On April 10, The Daily Star published a report on Al Amin, titled “Schoolboy by day, family's sole breadwinner by night”.

"I was deeply saddened after reading Al Amin's story," Zahirul Islam said. "Why should an eight-year-old have to bear the responsibility of a family? He should be going to school and enjoying his childhood. Receiving proper education is his right."

"It is the responsibility of society to stand beside such families so that children like Al Amin can continue their education without obstacles," he said. "That is why I came forward."

Zahirul Islam also has plans for the grandparents. He wants to help Nasir Uddin set up a small business so the elderly couple can support themselves.

"Al Amin has a very positive mindset. He is talented. I was impressed after talking with him. If given the right opportunity and guidance, one day he will be in a position to help many more children like himself. I want to open that path for him," the principal said.

Others were also moved by the report. Several people came forward to help, and the family says it has received around Tk 80,000 in assistance so far.

The grandparents received the news with a mix of happiness and sadness. "I am very happy that our grandson has got the opportunity to study in a good school," said Nasir Uddin. "This is Allah's blessing. My dream is that he will become established through education."

Grandmother Rabeya Khatun said, "It will be painful to stay away from Al Amin. But for his future, we must endure it. May Allah bless the person who has taken his responsibility."

Al Amin himself is clear about what comes next. "Studying is my dream. I have got the opportunity, so I will continue. No struggle is a struggle for me anymore. I want to establish myself through education and one day work for children like me."

His teacher at Zoom Bangladesh School, Asif Mahmud, said the news made them proud. "Al Amin is one of our most talented students. What Zahirul Islam has done is truly commendable."

"One day Al Amin will himself take responsibility for the education and future of street children, we hope," the teacher said.