Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has called an urgent meeting of top leaders of the alliance BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote and Bangladesh Jatiya Party, at her office at 1:30pm today, highly placed sources said.

Khaleda, who is also the chairperson of BNP, will preside over the meeting to be participated by chiefs and secretary generals of the four parties.

BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan has also called an emergency meeting of BNP and its front organisations at his official residence at 5pm today.

Talking to The Daily Star, BNP policymakers yesterday said that the alliance at this meeting will discuss and take up political programmes to face the opposition parties, particularly the Awami League in the street.

"Awami League is once again hatching conspiracy to topple the government by creating instability and resorting to violence even at the cost of destroying the image of the country," said a top BNP leader, adding, "We have decided to face them to foil their conspiracy."

He said the alliance will soon announce political programmes like public rallies, processions and mass contacts while the government will take a hard line on any attempt to create violence.

The BNP leader said law enforcers have been given instructions to take tough action against the lawbreakers, pickets during hartals and those who will be found involved in destructive activities like setting fire and damaging vehicles.