"We will join parliament to complete necessary process for bringing the electoral reforms and give it a constitutional shape," Jalil told the 14-party alliance's Muktangon rally organised as part of their countrywide demonstration to protest government's obstruction, arrest, and harassment of the opposition leaders and workers willing to join Tuesday's grand rally.

But the opposition's proposed discussion with the government over the reforms in the caretaker government and the EC will have to be held outside parliament, he added.

Later, the opposition combine brought out a procession that paraded city thoroughfares chanting slogans in support of today's hartal.

On Tuesday, top opposition leaders at the Paltan Maidan rally announced that they would not participate in any election without reforms in the caretaker government and the EC.

Earlier on July 15, the opposition combine gave a 31-point guideline for the reforms that include appointment of the chief advisor to the caretaker government through consultation with political parties.

Jalil posed a question to BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan as to why the government created obstacles on the way of people's joining the opposition rally and staged a "drama of transport strike" if they were not afraid of getting toppled by the grand rally.

Despite widespread arrests, torture, and repression by Rab and police, the government could not resist the mass wave," he said, adding that the day is not far away when the people will show victory sign as days of BNP-Jamaat government are numbered.

Other speakers at the rally asked the government to accept the proposal of reforms in the caretaker government and the EC systems and hold elections soon.

Presided over by Dhaka City AL General Secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, the rally was addressed, among others, by Gono Forum leader Mostafa Mohsin Montu, JSD leader Mir Hossain Akhter, Workers Party leader Kamrul Ahsan, Gonotontri party leader Shawkat Ali and Samyabadi Dal leader Harun Chowdhury.