The BNP-Jamaat attempted to cause major chaos in Dhaka in the name of a mass procession, but they were thwarted by the resoluteness of AL leaders and activists, according to Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud. The AL leader made the remarks while speaking with reporters at his Chattogram residence on Saturday. “Nevertheless, Jamaat-e-Islami, the BNP's main ally, attacked police officers. They failed due to the police force's patience,” he said. “Actually, on December 10, BNP realized that the majority of people are not on their side. They have been disappointed since then. That is why they are attempting to cause mayhem. Their politics is entirely based on deceit,” he went on. He also said that the BNP has adopted the policy of bootlicking foreigners and expects officials from various states or embassies to speak on their behalf. That didn't help either, added the minister. Hasan Mahmud said the BNP’s politics revolves around causing chaos. “That will not be tolerated by the people of the country”. Read more: Simultaneous Movement: 33 opposition parties set to take out mass processions in city He also stated that BNP set cars on fire on December 10th and will do so again if given the chance. Mentioning that he dealt with the sabotage of BNP in 2013–15, he also said, “We know what BNP wants to do and how much they can do. We also know how to handle it."   The BNP and 32 other like-minded opposition parties staged a procession of showdowns Friday in different parts of the capital, by way of the first joint programme in what is being billed as a collective movement to take down the incumbent government and set the stage for free and fair elections. They also separately announced sit-in programmes across the country on January 11 as their next course of action, to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the current government and formation of a polls-time caretaker government.   Read more: Simultaneous Movement: Ganatantra Mancha brings out mass procession in Dhaka BNP brought out a massive procession from in front of the party’s Nayapaltan area. It ended at Moghbazar after parading different roads through Bijoynagar, Kakrail, Shantinagar and Malibagh intersections.

Comparing the BNP-led alliance with the shedding of skin by a snake, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud claimed on Friday that the BNP-led coalition makes their alliance bigger or smaller from time to time. “Sometimes the alliance is 20-party, again 12-party and now it is 33-party,” he said. The I&B minister said this while addressing a sit-in programme in front of the central office of Bangladesh Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital’s Gulistan area. Read more: New political alliance “Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote” launched “There is doubt whether three out of the 33-parties will be found in the alliance except a few parties while rest other parties are only seen on signboard,” he said. Hasan Mahmud, also joint general secretary of the ruling AL, said the BNP and its alliance will be resisted once they try to create anarchy. People of Dhaka were panicked over the BNP’s mass procession, he claimed. “As the government party it is our duty to stay by the people and we are on the field so that none can destabilize law and order situation and peace,” the information said. Read more: 12-party alliance formed to support BNP’s movement Hasan Mahmud confidently claimed that the AL government will again come to power to govern the country through elections under leadership of Sheikh Hasina whom he called the symbol of people’s hope and aspiration.

A clash broke out between the law enforcers and activists and leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir in the capital's Malibagh as they tried to bring out a procession after Juma prayers, police said. Several people, including 10 cops and Jamaat- Shibir men sustained injuries during the clash. The law enforcers detained several Jamaat-Shibir men over the incident. The injured cops were New Market and Ramna zones’ Assistant Commissioners Sharif Mohammad Farukuzzaman and Md Bayezidur Rahman, sub inspectors—Shahidul Osman Masum, Subir Kumar Karmakar, Habibur Rahman, Mohaiminul Hasan, Kabir Hossain, Md Firoz Miah, constables Sourav Nath and Sadi Mohammad.   A police officer said the Jamaat-e-Islami sought permission from the police to bring out a mass procession from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque as part of the simultaneous movement of the opposition parties and alliances to unseat the current government. "But the party was denied permission." Read more: Simultaneous Movement: Ganatantra Mancha brings out mass procession in Dhaka "The Jamaat men tried to hold a mass procession without police permission in Malibagh. A clash ensued as police had asked the Jamaat men not to go through with the procession, but they had paid no heed to the law enforcers," Shahen Shah Mahmud, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna Division), said. "The Jamaat-Shibir men hurled bricks at police. The law enforcers then fired tear gas to disperse them and bring the situation under control," he added. "Later, some people were detained from the spot and brought to the concerned police station." Read more: Simultaneous Movement: 33 opposition parties set to take out mass processions in city

The Ganatantra Mancha on Friday brought out a mass procession in the capital as part of the simultaneous movement of the opposition parties and alliances to unseat the current government. The leaders and activists of the Ganatantra Mancha gathered in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the morning and brought out the procession around 11.30am. The other opposition parties and alliances will also bring out mass processions in the capital from different points. Read more: Simultaneous Movement: 33 opposition parties set to take out mass processions in city The BNP leaders and activists gathered in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office for carrying out their procession at 2pm. They started thronging the Nayapaltan area in the morning, carrying placards with photos of the party's top leaders. A large number of law enforcers have been deployed in the area. Also, as per the schedules, the 12-Party Alliance will bring out a procession from the Fakirapool Panir Tank area, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote from Purana Paltan Crossing, LDP from FDC Crossing and Jamaat-e-Islami from the north gate of Baitul Mukarram Mosque around 2:30pm. After the procession, the opposition parties and alliances are likely to announce fresh programmes to intensify their simultaneous movement.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Tuesday cleared the BNP to hold their mass procession in Dhaka on December 30. Though no specific condition was imposed upon the party, DMP Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq asked the BNP to hold it in a peaceful manner. BNP Vice Chairman Prof AZM Zahid Hossain and International Affairs Secretary Advocate Masud Ahmed Kamal on Tuesday evening went to the office of the DMP commissioner and held a meeting for around one hour. Later, Commissioner Faruq said, “BNP leaders came to take permission to hold the procession, permission was given in the context of their appeal.” Read more: BNP seeks DMP permission to hold Dec-10 rally at Nayapaltan He further said that the BNP leaders were asked to hold the procession peacefully and not to create anarchy. Besides, roads were fixed for the mass procession. After emerging from the DMP commissioner’s office, BNP leader Zahid said they held a meeting with the DMP commissioner and other higher officials to hold the mass procession aimed at realising their 10-point demand including dissolution of parliament. Putting several aspects of the meeting, he said their prescheduled procession will begin from Nayapaltan followed by the Jummah prayer. He also said that the police administration assured them of providing all kinds of cooperation to hold it. Read more: DMP gives BNP 26 conditions for holding Dec 10 rally at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan

The opposition BNP may change the date for holding mass procession scheduled for December 24 across the country upon the request of Awami League. BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said “We had no idea of the Awami League’s council. The decision to change the date of mass procession was taken.” “We will inform the next date for the mass procession after holding meeting with allies,” he said, adding that the decision to change the date was taken at a virtual meeting of standing committee on Monday. Read more: Quader urges BNP not to create chaos on December 24 Earlier, the BNP announced a countrywide mass procession at a rally held at Golapbagh field in the capital on December 10. The ruling has been raising voice for changing the date of mass procession for the last couple of days as their party council will held in the capital on December 24.