Dhaka: The BNP-led 20-party alliance will come up with its final decision on joining the 11th parliamentary elections within a day or two.

Oli Ahmed, president of LDP, one of the components of the 20-party alliance, said this while talking to reporters after a meeting of the alliance at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, reports the UNB

‘We discussed the election issue and the country’s overall situation. We didn’t take the final decision yet whether we’ll participate in the election or boycott it. Our alliance’s main partner BNP will make the decision public after discussion with Jatiya Oikyafront within a day or two,’ he added.

Oil said their alliance is now giving its main focus on the release of their leader Khaleda Zia. ‘She’ll have to be freed to ensure an election atmosphere.’

Accusing the government of arresting the leaders and activists of the 20-party alliance, he said a level-playing field is yet to be created.

Replying to a question, Oli said the registered political parties under the 20-party will write letters to the Election Commission on Sunday informing it that they may contest the polls either with their own election symbols or with BNP’s election symbol if they decide to participate in the election.

He, however, said his party, LDP, will contest the election with its own symbol if they finally join it.

Top leaders of the 20-party alliance joined the hour-long meeting that began around 6:15pm.

Earlier, BNP standing committee members held a meeting there and discussed the election issues.

After the meeting with the 20-party, top leaders of the Jatiya Oikyafront also sat in a meeting with the BNP senior leaders at the same venue.

However, Oikyafront chief Dr Kamal Hossain could not to go to the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office to join the meeting due to his illness.

Gono Forum executive president Subrata Chowdhury and general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu joined it with other alliance partners.

On Thursday evening, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda in a televised address to the nation announced the schedule for the next general election.

As per the schedule, the 11th parliamentary elections will be held on December 23 (Sunday) while the last date for submitting nomination papers is November 19, the date for scrutinising nomination papers is November 22 and the last date for the withdrawal of nomination papers is November 29.