Although the AL wanted the leaders of its allies to take part in the planned rally at Paltan Maidan, until last night responses did not come in its way. Yet, an optimistic main opposition is hopeful of "launching common anti-government programmes," no matter if from different podiums.

However, separate rallies of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) led by Hasanul Haq Inu on the road in between Zero Point and Paltan Crossing and of Workers Party in Hadis Park in Khulna coincide with the AL rally tomorrow.

An yet indecisive left-leaning 11-party alliance sits at 4:00pm today to set out a strategy for future anti-government movement -- brainstorming to resolve the long-drawn question of whether to go alongside the AL or continue to toe an independent line outside the BNP-AL traditional polarisation.

To take stock of the pre-grand rally political situation, the AL presidium members and leaders of its different front organisations had an impromptu meeting last night with Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in the chair. Party chief Sheikh Hasina, still haunted by the August 21 attempt on her life, was scheduled to return from Singapore after treatment late last night.

Emerging from the meeting, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil told newspersons that efforts were very much on to announce common programmes by all mainstream opposition parties.

Condemning the wholesale arrests ahead of the October 3 opposition showdown, Jalil threatened to give instant hartal calls if the government resorts to any move detrimental to smooth holding of the rally.

However, BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan told reporters Thursday that the government will rather cooperate with the opposition in holding their programmes, adding, so no question of putting up any barriers arises.

Mujahidul Islam Selim, top leader of the 11-party and general secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), told The Daily Star yesterday that they will try to accommodate other opposition parties' views in their future anti-government programmes. He ruled out any immediate possibility of a common platform.

JSD leader Hasanul Haq Inu said dialogues between the AL and other opposition parties are on and things will continue to take shape until the grand rally day approaches.