The BNP-led 19-party alliance could not bring out its planned black flag procession in the city, as the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) did not give permission for it. But as part of the programme, Pro-BNP lawyers brought out processions in the Supreme Court and Dhaka Judge Court premises. Black flag processions were also held in many other parts of the country. BNP had submitted an application to the DMP seeking permission for the programme. The programme was scheduled to start from 2:00 pm.DMP Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations) Masudur Rahman said they did not give permission for the black-flag procession on security grounds.BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office in the city in the afternoon protested and condemned the denial of the permission. In protest, he announced holding rally across the country on Saturday. The city’s rally will be held at Suhrawardy Uddyan at 3:00 pm, he said. Mirza Fakhrul said that holding rallies and processions is a democratic right, but the government BNP central organising secretary Advocate Mujibur Rahman Sarwar was among others, who addressed the rally in front of the party office. In Comilla, leaders and workers of the 19-party alliance brought out a procession at Kandirpar area in the city, but police dispersed it. Later, they brought out another procession at Victoria College Road. In Narsinghdi, the BNP men led by the party central leader Khairul Kabir Khokon brought out a procession in the district town. After the procession, a rally was held in the town, Khokon addressed it. In Tangail, the BNP men brought out a black flag procession from Shaheed Smriti Poura Uddyan which dispersed at the premises of Central Shaheed Minar. A brief rally was held which was addressed by BNP Chairperson’s adviser Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan. In Sirajganj, the 19-party men brought out a procession in the district town in the morning. Police later dispersed the procession. In Jhenaidah, a procession led by BNP organising secretary Moshiur Rahman was brought out from Priya Cinema Hall which ended in front of the BNP’s district unit office after parading different roads of the district town. In Dinajpur, the 19-party men brought out a procession in the district town at noon. Processions were also brought out in Sylhet, Moulvi Bazar, Noakhali, Thakurgaon and other parts of the country.
