"The dialogue will not bring any result as it is going to be held only between two parties," said the deposed dictator, who leads the third largest political party in parliament, at a JP pre-Iftar discussion at a hotel in the capital. "I think the planned dialogue between the two parties will not be successful and it's too late now."

"It seems that no other party exists in Bangladesh except BNP and Awami League," Ershad observed. Any dialogue on electoral reforms should be held among the parties that have representation in the parliament, he suggested.

Ershad, who recently hinted at the possibility of joining the BNP-Jamaat-led coalition, yesterday apparently took a different stance and said he would decide about joining the alliance after observing results of the dialogue between BNP and AL.

However, the JP chairman urged his party leaders and workers to be prepared for any outcome of the dialogue.

Ershad castigated the government for acute power crisis and price hike of essentials.

Rowshan Ershad, JP senior presidium member and leader of the JP parliamentary party, Kazi Zafar Ahmed, presidium member and ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, secretary general, also addressed the Iftar party.