Sources in the coalition said the meeting may take a decision to send a reply to the prime minister's letter asking her to create a congenial atmosphere for the dialogue by sacking those parties and persons from her government who are accused of patronising militants.

Left 11-party alliance, friendly to the 14-party coalition, is going to hold a separate meeting this morning where it will also discuss the prime minister's invitation.

Meanwhile, a meeting of Gono Forum, a partner in the opposition coalition, yesterday asked the government to prove its sincerity about holding a national dialogue by taking actions against the persons in the government who are allegedly involved in harbouring militants that include both Jamaat and BNP men.

The extended meeting of the party's central committee with Dr Kamal Hosain in the chair said the party is not against a fruitful national dialogue, but it will have to be held in a congenial atmosphere.

Apart from the militant issue, the national dialogue should also discuss opposition's demand of bringing reforms in the system of caretaker government and the Election Commission, the meeting observed.

It urged the 14-party coalition, left 11-party alliance and other secular forces in the country to make a united national effort for a fruitful national dialogue.

"The nation is now united against evil forces. What we need now is a united and effective national effort," Dr Kamal told the meeting.

Apart from central leaders of the party, top leaders of different district units also spoke in the meeting held in the party office in Dhaka yesterday evening.

"We are not against a dialogue, but it will have to be in a congenial atmosphere. We can't sit with people who are patronising militants and try to find ways to stop militancy," senior Gono Forum leader Pankaj Bhattacharya told The Daily Star, after the meeting.