BNP standing committee last night decided to form a new alliance, keeping the existing four-party alliance intact with an aim to forge a tougher anti-government movement. Earlier on Thursday, leaders of the four-party alliance took the decision and empowered the BNP chairperson to finalise it in consultation with her party’s highest policymaking forum. Following the Thursday’s meeting, BNP standing committee last night sat with the party chairperson at her Gulshan office with her in the chair. Meeting sources said a number of parties including Liberal Democratic Party and Kalyan Party will be included in the new alliance. As per the decision of Thursday’s meeting, Khaleda Zia will finalise the name of the new alliance. Sources also said the committee members also discussed the party’s preparation for Chittagong road march. Khaleda Zia will lead the two-day road march on January 8 and 9 and is likely to announce fresh agitation programme from the Chittagong rally. The details of the agitation programmes will be finalised by the standing committee members just before the road-march programme, said a senior leader of the party preferring not to be named.
