Khaleda to discuss with alliance leaders

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has convened a meeting with the allies after a faction of Dilip Barua-led Samyabadi Dal decided to join the alliance. Dilip Barua was industries minister in the Awami league-led 14-party Grand Alliance government during its 2009-2013 tenure. The 19-party alliance's meeting will be held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office on Wednesday night, party’s Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said. A five-member delegation led by acting General Secretary of Samyabadi Dal Sayeed Ahmed met Khaleda Zia on Tuesday. After the meeting Sayeed Ahmed said they would join the BNP-led 19-party alliance. The breakaway faction of the Samyabadi Dal asked Dilip Barua to resign from the cabinet. The rebels expelled him from the party later. 'Since then we have been running the party after forming supreme council,' Sayeed Ahmed said. The faction of Samyabadi Dal led by Dilip Barua is an ally of the 14-party grand alliance, according to bdnews24.com.