This weekend turned out as tense as expected. From BNP's Dhaka rally (though Obaidul Quader has called it a picnic party), Awami League's Savar rally, Brazil's shocking exit, Bangladesh losing the third game in India-ODI — a lot is going on right now. Here's a quick round-up to catch you up with all of it: 

1. Mark your calendars: BNP plans to hold countrywide demonstrations on December 13 and 24 

Facing repression from Awami League, the BNP has vowed to not backdown. In today's rally, the opposition party announced mass processions and demonstrations in protest of the attack on and arrest of party leaders and activists. On December 13, BNP will hold countrywide mass demonstration in protest of arrest of BNP leaders and activists including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Mirza Abbas, who were controversially sent to jail following the December 7 crackdown in BNP's Nayapaltan office. On December 24, the party will hold processions in all divisional and metropolitan cities to realise their 10-point demand. The 10-point demands include the resignation of the ruling Awami League government and dissolving of parliament. The demands include formation of a neutral caretaker government/interim caretaker government; scrapping conviction of all BNP leaders and activists; withdrawal of all "false cases" filed against them; repealing Digital Security Act 2018, Anti-Terrorism Act 2009 and the Special Powers Act 1974; and rescuing victims of enforced disappearances. Read the demands here 

2. BNP rally in Gopalganj amassed a large crowd despite all the AL intimidation 

Commuters in the capital faced trouble getting public transport ahead of the BNP rally: fewer buses plying down the roads and police checkpoints at various intersections of the city. At least 35 people were detained while entering the capital through the city's Abdullahpur and Savar's Aminbazar entry points today. Defying the obstacles, the crowd at Gopalganj spilled over to the streets. In photos, here is how the day progressed. 

The Daily Star's reporters on the field interviewed several BNP activists, many of them have spent their lives in police harrassment and sued in legal cases. They fear backlash from Awami League on their way back home. Previously, Obaidul Quader had said that Awami League activists and leaders in every ward will remain vigilant today. 

3. BNP MPs quit and Awami League doesn't care  

In the BNP rally, the 7 BNP MPs out of 330 in the parliament, quit Jatiya Sangsad. They now urges the Jatiya Party lawmakers to follow suit, and "join the ranks of common people." Members of Awami League, gathered at Savar today for their rally, and addressed the resignations. AL Joint General Secretary Hanif said the resignations were unlawful as one has to submit a letter to the Speaker. Obaidul Quader, on the other hand, seemed much less bothered. "There is no reason to think that the Jatiya Sangsad will be paralysed if the seven of you go," he said. 

Regarding the ruling party's rally at Savar, held in Radio Colony ground adjacent to the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar — which the BCL blocked earlier from last night — the AL leaders said the gathering shows that the people have rejected the "anarchy" of BNP-Jamaat. 

4. Cricket: Bangladesh hopes of white-wash against India crashes 

Photo: Firoz Ahmed

Bangladesh lost their third final ODI of the series against India in Chattogram Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram. India have already lost the series, losing the first two matches to Shakib Al Hasan with the ball, and Mehidy Hasan with the bat. But India has something to be happy about: they scored 409 runs, setting a new record total. After 3 years, Virat Kohli scored a century while Ishaan Kashan scored a double century. Player of the series was handed over to Mehidy Hasan. Read  the match highlights here 

5. Qatar World Cup: Brazil out, Argentina in. Another night of thrilling Quarter Finals, with England and France head-to-head tonight. 

55 percent of Bangladesh were left happy last night in a historically thrilling night of football. The dream semi-final between the South Americans, which really seemed like a possibility is now shattered.

Argentina crawled into the semis, beating Netherlands 4-3 in penalties, after a long, rather violent match. The referee of the match set a new record for the World Cup with 17 yellow-cards. Brazil fans, only in Bangladesh though, where lives a unique rivalry against Argentina, were seen on social media spreading a rumour that the referee who handed out 10 yellow cards to Argentina was Brazilian. He wasn't. Yesterday, the referee was Antonio Mateu Lahoz, from Spain. 

The night was a tear-jerker for Brazil fans, as they shockingly lost yesterday to Modric's underrated Croatia. Neymar, who scored one goal before the equaliser, said, he doesn't know whether he will return to the next World Cup.

Tonight, Morocco, the underdog of the Quarter Finals takes on Ronaldo's Portugal, and England and France, the infamous European rivals, will go head-to-head at 1:00am. Though England has an upper hand in the overall head-to-head record (17 wins in 31 games), France has been the dominant force since the turn of the millennium, with four wins against one for the English. Follow our FIFA page for what to expect tonight