At its meeting with the chief adviser, the BNP will demand a specific roadmap to the election.

The party will submit a written statement to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, which would say that unless a roadmap was announced, the BNP would begin street protests, insiders said after a BNP standing committee meeting last night.

If a roadmap mentioning specific time for the polls is announced, the party will begin preparing for the election, they added.

The party leaders will urge the CA to make sure that reforms are done by June.

The BNP has already outlined a series of peaceful programmes for the next three months. These programmes are likely to be rallies, marches, and processions, beginning at the grassroots.

At today's meeting with the CA, the BNP would seek to know specifically when the interim government intends to hold the national election.

Prof Yunus has said on multiple occasions that the next election would be held between this December and June next year while the BNP insists the government should be more specific.

The party has also expressed concerns that some key individuals in the government were out to delay the election.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and several other leaders are scheduled to meet the CA at state guest house Jamuna around noon.

BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday questioned whose agenda Prof Yunus was serving by remaining vague about the election.

"Why can't you stick to one time frame? You are a world famous and respected person. Such shifting won't be well received nationally and internationally," he said.

At today's meeting, the BNP will clearly state its position that the national election must be held in December, said party leaders.

The leaders will also hint that they may take to the streets to press home its demand.

They will ask the CA to officially inform the Election Commission and publicly announce that polls would be held in December.

The issue was discussed at the BNP standing committee meeting, at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office. BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting.

Tarique on Sunday criticised those who are advocating reforms.

"They are talking about reforms while occupying key posts, being inside air-conditioned rooms at expensive offices. They are propagating reforms while enjoying government benefits like cars, salaries, bonuses, and allowances," he said.

Meanwhile, CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam yesterday said, "The dialogue between our political parties and the Consensus Commission will determine the extent of reforms we will undertake. The decision on how much reform we will implement will be made, based on the consensus reached by the political parties.

"If it is decided that we will carry out 200 reforms, the question arises whether we will implement 10 of them now and leave the rest [for the next government]…. This entire matter depends on the dialogue between the political parties and the Consensus Commission," he added.

This would be BNP's first meeting with the CA focusing solely on the election timeline.

The party believes that uncertainty has recently increased as several political leaders and advisers made "confusing statements".

In their meeting with the Chief Adviser today, they are eager to pinpoint exactly when the election roadmap will be revealed.

The BNP has been demanding a national election since the fall of Sheikh Hasina in early August last year.

In early February, BNP leaders said the CA had told them that the election would be held by December this year.

The leadership now feels that the government has shifted its stance.