The AL reaction came following Thursday night's meeting between Ershad and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman and State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil MP said the meeting between the BNP leaders and Ershad is the manifestation of a "last-ditch attempt by a falling government to keep afloat its sinking ship."

"Ershad has not yet given his decision. Let us see what happens...Many events will take place ahead of the elections," Jalil said.

AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said after being isolated and rejected by the people, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is "knocking at different doors to salvage her sinking ship".

If Ershad at all joins the ruling alliance, it will not help Khaleda Zia, he said.

Another presidium member Tofail Ahmed does not think Ershad will finally join the four-party alliance as the deposed president himself stated that he was passing through a difficult time.

"Let's see what decision he [Ershad] takes once the caretaker government takes over," he said.

Terming Ershad 'unfaithful and political rubbish', Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President (JSD) Hasanul Huq Inu said Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's current effort is "a last attempt to keep afloat the ship that has already developed a crack."

"It has also proved that Khaleda Zia has become weak in the face of the 14-party combine's movement. She wants to face the election by forming alliance with Ershad," Inu said, adding, "But it won't be possible for her to win the elections by taking Ershad into her alliance."

Khaleda's hobnobbing with Ershad also proves that she can no longer trust Jamaat-e-Islami, her main partner in the government, the JSD president said.