Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal (ML) on Wednesday welcomed the BNP-announced 27-point programme for ‘the repair of the state’ and termed the move as time-befitting. In a statement, signed by Kazi Mustafa Kamal, a member of the party’s Politburo, however, said no provision was made regarding the poor condition of the country’s rivers and the outcry of three crore people on the banks of the Teesta River for water.  It said about 60 percent of the population of the country, especially the marginal farmers and the workers working in the mills who need rations system, have not been mentioned in the campaign. Read more: BNP holds talks with Samyabadi Dal, DL to wage greater movement “Bangladesh is now in the list of underdeveloped countries. So how is it possible that the working people of the country will contribute to the GDP without eating properly,” the statement asked. “We hope that the leaders of the BNP …will pay attention to these demands of the people and if these demands are included they will be acceptable to all as universal demands,” said the party.

BNP Thursday sat with a faction of Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal and Democratic League (DL) as part of its move to work out a strategy to wage a greater anti-government movement. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and party standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan had separate meetings with the parties, also the components of the 20-party alliance, in the evening at the party chairperson's Gulshan office. An eight-member delegation of Samyabadi Dal, led by its general secretary Sayed Nazrul Islam, first sat with the BNP leaders. Later, the BNP leaders had a meeting with a six-member delegation of DL, led by its general secretary Saifuddin Moni. Read: BNP appreciates CEC, but won't join any talks with current EC Later, Fakhrul told the media that their party's talks with political parties remained suspended for some days due to floods and Eid. "We resumed the dialogue again through the two meetings with Samyabadi Dal and Democratic League today." He said they are trying to unite the political parties through the talks to launch a greater movement to restore democracy. During the meetings, Fakhrul said the two parties agreed to wage a united street movement to force the current Awami League regime to quit power and establish a pro-people government through a credible election under a non-party administration. "We've already sat with many parties, and we hope we'll be able to conclude the talks within a short time," the BNP leader said. On May 24, BNP formally began the dialogue with other opposition parties with the first meeting with Nagorik Oikya – aimed at forging unity among opposition political parties. The party also had talks with Labour Party, Ganosanghati Andolon, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party, Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), National Democratic Party (JAGPA), Nap (Bhasan), Muslim League, Islami Oikya Jote and Jamiat Ulama-e Islam.