Reiterating the position of the BNP-led four-party alliance, Khaleda said they would participate in the election, as there is a constitutional obligation to hold it within 90 days from power handover.

About the much-talked matter of seeking Supreme Court's reference for taking more time to hold the election with all the parties' participation, she said, "The Supreme Court can explain the constitution but it can not issue any direction against or beyond the constitution."

Expressing her doubt whether Awami League will accept the Supreme Court's interpretation on the constitutional obligation for holding election, she said, "We have trust in the Supreme Court. But do they [AL] have any faith in the Supreme Court?"

Khaleda Zia, who addressed a press conference at a hotel in the capital, did not reply to any question of the journalists. BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan replied to the reporters' queries on behalf of her after her written speech.

Mannan Bhuiyan later said the president can send reference to the Supreme Court on a matter that is controversial and obscure but there is no obscurity about holding the election within 90 days.

Many leaders, workers and activists of the BNP-led four-party alliance and pro-BNP professionals including teachers, doctors, lawyers and columnists gathered at the press conference venue.

"We urged all to take part in January 22 election as it would strengthen the democratic process if all the parties join the election," Khaleda Zia said at the conference.

"Awami League is trying to make the BNP a victim of an odd situation through boycotting the election. Conspiracy is going on to shift the blame on us for holding election with the participation of lesser number of political parties," she said.

"They could not give an acceptable reason for changing their mind abruptly…There can be only one reason -- disqualification of the Jatiya Party Chairman [Ershad] on legal grounds from contesting the election," Khaleda said.

The BNP chairperson said fake voters crept into the list during the rule of the AL.

"New voter list could not be prepared due to the case filed by Awami League and so the next election will be held on the basis of the current list which was prepared during the Awami League tenure," she said, adding that now it is the Election Commission's responsibility to update the voter roll and it is a continuous process although the Awami League boycotts the election by making it an excuse.

She termed the memorandum of understanding signed between the AL and Khelafat Majlish a cheating with the people as AL later said that it is nothing but a strategy to win the next election.

Having lost their way after the failed programmes with sticks and oars, Awami League

is looking for all possible ways to win the election through sacrificing their ideology and principles, she said.

Criticising the massive transfers by the caretaker government, she said, "Large-scale reshuffles and transfers in the administration have weakened the administration, leading to the rise in crimes."

"The Awami League's demands are endless," the former prime minister said, adding that the AL forced the interim government to meet almost all their demands and this interim government had to face more demands than any other.

Describing Ershad as an 'advertisement of corruption', she said, "Awami League said they will fight against corruption but the Awami League president held a press conference with a convicted person [Ershad] beside her and asked the government to allow that person to take part in the polls."

Accusing the AL of double standards, Khaleda Zia, said, "The Awami League claimed that they are an election-oriented party but they are boycotting the election. They said they believe in secularism but they signed a most controversial memorandum of understanding with a religion-based party."

"They [AL] alleged that government did not prepare a list of real criminals but the party nominated many real criminals as their candidate. They said they do not want to create suffering for people but they have called blockade again for January 7and 8," she said.

Narrating the development works and successes achieved in last five years, she said they would lead the country to more development if they are voted to power again.

Later in reply to a question, BNP Secretary General Mannan Bhuiyan said preparation of a clean voter list and voter ID card will get priority if they are elected next time.

Many political parties will participate in the election but there is nothing to do if any political party wants to stay away, he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Qamaruzzaman, Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman Anwar Hossain Monju, BJP Chairman Naziur Rahman Manjur, BNP Standing Committee member M Saifur Rahman, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, advocate Khandker Mahbubuddin Ahmed, Moudud Ahmed, Islami Oikya Jote (Amini) chairman Mufti Fazlul Haque Amini and Moulana Ishaq were also present at the press conference.