Following the AL announcement that came at the post-long march rally on Sunday, both the ruling four-party alliance and the opposition prepare themselves for a face-off in parliament this week for the first time over the issues of reforms.

AL plans to issue an ultimatum to the government to meet the demands for reforms while the top government policymakers are busy discussing how to react to the developments that might follow once the proposals are brought forward, sources said.

On returning to the House after a 16-month boycott either on Wednesday or Thursday, Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina in a speech in parliament will place the reform proposals and announce the time limit, added the sources.

In line with the 14-party alliance's reform agenda, the AL

policymakers are now drafting the speech stressing that the next parliamentary election will not be free and fair unless the reforms are implemented, sources said.

Law Minister Moudud Ahmed yesterday told The Daily Star that the proposals must be submitted in accordance with the rules of procedure of parliament. The government will obviously consider those if they are acceptable in constitutional terms.

The government will decide on what to do after seeing how they [AL] place the proposals, he observed.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Abdul Hamid yesterday said the proposals will be tabled either as a private member's bill or under rule 62 or rule 68 of the rules of procedure. It will be decided in consultation with the members of the 14-party.

He said they will demand the Business Advisory Committee extend the ongoing session, currently scheduled to run till February 16, for 15 more workdays.

Hasina, also the AL president, at the Sunday's rally threatened to resign en bloc from parliament if the government refuses to accept the proposals. But sources among the party policymakers hint that the resignation decision would rather come at a time when the government will have no scope to hold by-elections to the vacant seats.

"The possibility of mass resignation from parliament before the next June or July is somewhat remote if by this time no dramatic political developments take place," an AL policymaker told The Daily Star, wishing anonymity.

AL Whip Faruk Khan told The Daily Star that the AL parliamentary party will sit in a couple of days to work out its strategy in the House.

He and Chief Whip of the Opposition Abdus Shahid on Sunday night talked to the AL chief about the possible date for the meeting and sought guidelines on the next course of action.

With the return, AL will end a 16-month boycott, which they attribute to the speaker's not allowing the opposition lawmakers to speak. The return will also save the leader of the opposition from losing her membership.

In the wake of the latest developments, the ruling BNP policymakers, who earlier rejected outright the demands for reforms, might budge on the issue and sit in a dialogue with the opposition parties.

Both the ruling alliance and the main opposition, many political observers believe, seem more likely to change their earlier rigid stances following the recent visits by the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca and European Union (EU) troika.

The US high official during her visit termed the next elections critical for Bangladesh and called for a 'level playing field' and free, fair polls with participation of all political parties to ensure the winners' 'legitimacy'.

The EU, meanwhile, has called on the country's two major political parties to initiate a dialogue on reforms to establish a cross-party confidence in the caretaker government and the Election Commission.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan on Saturday in a statement expressed the government's intent to sit down with the opposition to talk the electoral reforms.

About the opposition planning to place the proposals for reforms, Communications Minister Nazmul Huda on Sunday said, "It is indeed a positive sign."

"According to the constitution, any proposal can be tabled and discussed in parliament and decision can be made on it," he said.