Opposition defines 'action' formula

The BNP-led opposition alliance announced a new round of protests and finalised its All-Party Action Council yesterday, a month and a half after they reached their historic agreement.

The council's composition was finalised last night during a liaison committee meeting at 29 Minto Road, the Leader of the Opposition's official residence.

Liason committee representative met with BNP Chairman Khaleda Zia after they voted unanimously to finalise the council. She approved council's structure and asked them to take immediate steps to implement it at all seven levels.

Each unit will comprise 101 members and will have a convenor. There will be no joint convenor or co-convenor.

The council's convenor will selected by consensus from local opposition leaders. The council will be set up in all four metropolises, districts, pourashavas, thanas, wards and unions.

In the cities, the council will consist of city, thana and ward units, while it will consist of district, pourashava, thana and union units in the districts.

A circular outlining the council's formation guidelines will be sent to all units on Saturday. The secretary generals of the BNP, Jatiya Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Oikya Jote will likely sign the circular today.

The liaison committee decided to include all nationalist, democratic and Islamic parties, professionals, students, workers organisations and eminent personalities in the council.

Alliance leaders said the opposition will benefit from the council's formation, since it will work for movement as well as election.

Anwar Zahid, the BNP's representative on the liaison committee, said the council will be formed as quickly as possible in all units.

He said the council's main objective is to expedite the current one-point movement and achieve victory as soon as possible.

The liaison committee also announced a fresh round of anti-government protests.

The alliance will hold countrywide demonstrations on January 16 to protest the deterioration of law and order and the killing of a large number of people, including a joint secretary of the government, in last few days.

On January 23, the four parties will hold simultaneous public rallies in Dhaka. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, JP Chairman HM Ershad, Jamaat Ameer Golam Azam and IOJ chief Azizul Haq will address their respective rallies and outline the opposition's next course of action.

The alliance will also observe "Democracy Killing Day" on January 25.

In addition, the four party chiefs will address public meetings in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet to mobilise people's support for their campaign.