BANGLADESH

Main opposition BNP's chairperson Khaleda Zia will officially announce four-party alliance's extension from the March 12 grand rally.

Jammat-e-Islami's Nayeb-e-Amir Maulana Abdus Subhan briefed journalists about the decision taken by members of the four-party alliance at a meeting on Wednesday night. The over an hour-long meeting ended around 10:00pm.

"We discussed the draft of the announcement for expanding our coalition. We have offered some suggestions. The announcement will come at the grand rally on March 12," said Abdus Subhan.

Another member of the coalition Bangladesh Jatiya Party chairman Andalib Rahman Partho said the discussion focussed on whether the government would be given an ultimatum or any other move.

He mentioned that the coalition would assume a different name after its expansion and that some names have already been proposed.

The meeting was also attended by Jamaat-e-Islami executive member Mia Golam Parowar, BJP secretary general Shamim Al Mamun, Islami Oikya Jote secretary general Abdul Latif Nezami, and Khelafat Majlish chairman principal Mohammad Ishaque.

The March 12 rally, convened by BNP, would be held in front of the party's head office in Naya Paltan.

Later, Khaleda Zia held another meeting with 10 other like-minded parties to discuss the preparations of the grand rally and new programmes to be announced from there.

The parties include National People's Party, Jatiya Gonotantrik Party, Islamic Party, Labour Party, and National Democratic Party. Khaleda also held another meeting with the leaders of Liberal Democratic Party.