The AL wants the government to agree with the proposals and place a bill in the House.

A meeting of the AL Central Working Committee yesterday took the decision. It did not fix the date of joining the House but sources in the main opposition party said the AL lawmakers are likely to return to parliament on Sunday.

Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina in her speech will outline the reform proposals and give an ultimatum to the government to meet the demands. Hasina is now preparing her speech to be delivered in parliament, a party leader said.

The government side has already rejected outright any reforms in the caretaker government system, but urged the main opposition to bring any proposal regarding reforms of the electoral rules in the form of a bill.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed told newsmen that the government will consider the opposition proposals if they place those in parliament under the rules of procedure and in the form of a bill.

AL chief Sheikh Hasina at yesterday's meeting said she would give a time limit to the government to meet the reform demands. She did not specify the time limit but AL policymakers said it might be 15 days to one month.

"We have decided not to place any bill on the reforms. The government will place the bill if it agrees with our proposals," an AL leader told The Daily Star wishing anonymity.

The ALCWC meeting decided that the party chief will fix the date for the AL parliamentary party meeting. "Party chief Sheikh Hasina will decide when we will join parliament," AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil told reporters after the meeting.

Sources said the AL parliamentary party is likely to sit on February 12 to discuss the issue and the lawmakers may join the House on that day or the next day.

After the February 5 announcement on joining parliament, party's senior leaders hinted at returning to the House this week, but the joining delayed as the preparation on how they will place the reform proposals was not completed.

The four-hour ALCWC meeting held at AL's Dhanmondi office also decided to accelerate the ongoing antigovernment movement. Apart from the ALCWC members, party lawmakers were present in the meeting.

Hasina will lose her membership if she does not return to the House by February 14.