The convention would inform the leaders about the latest political situation and give them directives to further strengthen the opposition in different districts and upazilas.

"We have decided to hold the convention to inform them about the latest political scenario, to convey political decisions to our grassroots leaders and to strengthen the opposition combine's activities where we are yet to have an organisational shape," a senior leader told The Daily Star after a meeting of the opposition combine.

The meeting was held at 14-party coordinator Abdul Jalil's Nam flat with AL Presidium Member Abdur Razzak in the chair.

The meeting also decided to organise road marches at different district headquarters after August 15 and a grand rally in the capital on the first week of September. The opposition combine will sit again today at 3:00pm to formally announce their next course of action to compel the government accept the electoral reforms.

Leaders in the meeting also observed that they would consider sitting for dialogues with the coalition government if the alliance government proposed an alternative proposal -- general secretary level meetings -- to discuss the proposed electoral reforms.

The senior leaders of the opposition combine said it is the responsibility of the government, not the opposition's, to give proposals in this regard. "If they really do give proposals, we are ready to sit with them to discuss the electoral reforms," another senior leader said.

The meeting accused the BNP-led four-party coalition government of leading the country towards an election of 'conspiracy' by preparing and updating the voter roll with 'fake' identities.

Reiterating their stance of no election before implementation of the proposed electoral reforms, the opposition combine urged the government to update the voter list after reforms in the Election Commission (EC) and after ousting the chief election commissioner (CEC) and two other 'politically' appointed commissioners.

Briefing the newsmen after the meeting Jalil, also general secretary of AL, said the government has been dilly-dallying in accepting the reform proposals. Jalil accused the prime minister of giving contradictory statements over the reforms issue.

"She [prime minister] spoke about the implementation of the reforms proposals through discussions and, on the other hand she told public rallies that there were no need for reforms," Jalil said accusing the prime minister of misleading the people.

He said the prime minister turned the EC into her loyal organisation. Due to this no voter list updated by this EC would be acceptable.

Presided over by AL presidium member Abdur Razzak, the meeting was also attended by Tofail Ahmed, Suranjeet Sengupta, Kazi Jafarullah, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haque Inu, Bimal Biswas, Dilip Barua, Syed Zafor Sazzad, Mainuddin Khan Badal, Pankaj Bhattacharya, Nurul Islam, Asit Baran Roy, and Zakir Hossain.