The opposition political camp is expected to unveil an array of agitation programmes on the heels of yesterday's countrywide general strike enforced by the main opposition party Awami League (AL) and three other parties in a first-ever display of opposition unity against the 30-month-old administration of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

On the historic March 7 today, the AL is scheduled to announce a more vigorous 'oust-government' programme.

On March 9, ex-president Badruddoza Chowdhury is going to make the declaration of the much-talked-about 'third force', a platform of an alternative political stream.

Countrywide demonstrations and rallies by the AL, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Workers Party (WP) and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD)-Inu are scheduled for the same day.

Gano Forum's Dr Kamal Hossain will hold a national convention on March 14 under the banner of Oikya Procheshta.

The AL, CPB, WP and JSD (Inu) will hold separate rallies on March 9 protesting police excesses, arrests and the recent attack on writer Humayun Azad. Meanwhile, the AL and JSD (Inu) are desperately trying to get the CPB and WP to hold a joint rally on the day.

"We're planning to hold the March 9 rally at the same time and same venue -- maybe the Central Shaheed Minar -- provided all other parties agree. This way we will be able to carry forward the opposition unity against this BNP-Jamaat regime," JSD chief Hasanul Haq Inu told The Daily Star last night.

CPB General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim however ruled out the possibility. "The time has not come yet. We've already announced our rally at Muktangan at 4:00pm on March 9.”

Against this backdrop and following yesterday's hartal, the AL leadership at a meeting last night took stock of the situation and decided to announce certain programmes at today's AL rally in the city to be addressed by Sheikh Hasina.

Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon said the movement to force this government for an early exit would gather momentum after today's meeting of the 11-party alliance.

CPB General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim told The Daily Star last night that the fact that it called for hartal on the same day as the AL should not be interpreted as its support for the main opposition.

"We do not believe only in change of power from one party to another. Rather, we would like to see a qualitative change in the country's democratic political culture," Selim said. He also asserted that a left-democratic force could be evolved by going beyond bipolar politics.

Although Jatiya Party-Ershad (JP-Ershad), the second largest opposition in parliament, has indefinitely postponed its mass procession scheduled for March 10, it has nonetheless initiated a process to forge an opposition alliance on its own.

The party held a meeting with ASM Rob-led JSD last week and JP leader and lawmaker GM Kader hinted at more such meetings with other opposition parties as well. "We're not calling hartal yet as we want to use it as a last resort. Let's see whether this government can improve upon its record," Kader said.

Badruddoza Chowdhury will most likely announce his political platform from Ramna Green or Institute of Engineers since he was denied use of the Paltan Maidan.

Apart from its convenor Dr Kamal Hossain, the March 14 national convention of Oikya Procheshta will also feature Prof Kabir Chowdhury, journalist Ataus Samad, Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Mozaffar Ahmed, Khan Sarwar Murshid, Badruddoza Chowdhury and chief of Krishak Sramik Janata League Kader Siddiqui.

Co-ordinator of the convention, Mafizul Islam Kamal told The Daily Star yesterday that most political parties except the ruling alliance will be invited to the convention while Oikya Procheshta leaders are still unsure about inviting Awami League.