The three-member delegation at its over one-hour meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice MA Aziz and election commissioners Justice Mahfuzur Rahman, SM Zakaria and Hasan Mahmud Mansur also discussed preparations and tentative time for announcement of schedule for the election due to be held in January next year.

"The next parliamentary election must be held under the present Election Commission, if you follow the constitution," BNP Vice-chairman MK Anwar, who led the team, told reporters emerging from the meeting held in the afternoon. "If you [want to] enforce the constitution using 'sticks', then it is something different," Anwar said replying to query.

"It is immaterial whether any party contests the election or not," the former agriculture minister said when asked about the Awami League (AL)-led 14-party's stance that it would not contest any polls under the present EC.

Asked whether the polls will be credible if the 14-party combine does not contest, Anwar said, "The election will be held as per the constitution."

Jamaat leader Abdur Razzaq said, "We will keep on cooperating with the Election Commission as required for holding the election."

Before the attending the meeting, Razzaq told The Daily Star that he came on behalf of his party and MK Anwar and Mofzzal Karim on behalf of the BNP to discuss election- related matters.

Mofazzal, a member of the advisory council to the BNP chairperson, earlier met the EC secretary separately.

The BNP-Jamaat team met the EC at a time when the political arena is witnessing growing heat over the issue of resignation of the CEC and election commissioners. Apart from the 14-party, civil society and different professional bodies are demanding reconstitution of the EC. Even the council of advisers to the caretaker government is looking for ways to make the EC credible for holding a free and fair election.

But the BNP-Jamaat-led four-party alliance is vehemently opposing any change in the EC. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday categorically asked the council of advisers not to tinker with the EC.

Against this backdrop, the BNP-Jamaat delegation's unscheduled meeting with the EC is viewed by many political analysts as the four-party's formal support for it.

At the meeting, Anwar said, they inquired about progress of the printing of voter list and other preparatory work for the next election. "Time is running fast...We also discussed the tentative time for announcing the election schedule."

He went on, "The Election Commission informed us that it is fully prepared to conduct the election in time."

Razzaq said the EC sought cooperation from all political parties.

Earlier in the morning, Democratic Hindu Party met the CEC and urged him to ensure security of the Hindus before and after the election.

Talking to reporters at his office, EC Secretary Abdur Rashid Sarkar said election schedule would be announced soon.

Responding to a query, he denied allegations of irregularities in awarding work orders for the printing of updated voter list.