The decision came following a severe discord within the alliance on question of launching a unified movement with AL for ouster of the government. The decision apparently hints at the success of the ruling party's move to keep AL isolated from minor parties.

The leaders of the left alliance, however, expressed opinion that any component of the alliance could join hands with the main opposition at its own discretion.

They also decided the alliance would consider observing programmes in sync with the main opposition on different issues. And any declaration in this regard will come after a thorough discussion, sources at the meeting said.

"We decided to launch anti-government and anti- fundamentalists movement under the banner of 11-party," Hazi Abdus Samad, the left alliance coordinator, told The Daily Star after the meeting was adjourned.

Referring to a unified movement with the main opposition, he said, "The possibility remains remote."

Against the backdrop of the August 21 grenade blasts that killed 19 people and injured over 200 at an AL rally, a fresh move to launch a unified movement to oust the four-party alliance government was initiated. Combining the left alliance with AL was central to the initiative.

The main opposition and the left alliance jointly called three days of hartal in protest at the grenade attacks. But the alliance refused to support the fourth hartal called by the AL front organisations.

Left leaders at yesterday's meeting also discussed an array of programmes against the coalition government and the religious extremists. They are likely to announce the programmes in a couple of days, sources said.

A procession towards the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on September 12 and human chain from Tangi to Narayanganj on September 17 are on the cards.

"The 11-party with its own initiatives and in coordination with its front organisations will go ahead for movement across the country. It will also try to bring all progressive forces together," said the meeting resolution.

The meeting held at the Workers Party (WP) office discussed in detail the prevailing political situation.

The alliance urged people to unite against the government and the fundamentalist outfits. It also called on all the progressive political parties and professional bodies to strengthen issue-based movement to change people's fate.

Communist Party President Manzurul Ahsan Khan presided over the meeting.