JP sources said Ershad unilaterally finalised the decision yesterday, ignoring the opinion of senior party leaders including Kazi Zafar Ahmad and Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader.

To avoid discontent and unexpected situation arising out of his move, Ershad also suspended the November 4 and 5 extended meeting of his party.

"The party chairman has decided to return to the BNP-led four-party alliance, and this will be announced tomorrow (Friday)," JP Presidium Member Kazi Firoz Rashid told The Daily Star last night.

The announcement would follow a presidium meeting of the party this morning. Ershad will preside over the meeting at the party's Banani office,

Firoz Rashid said.

Senior JP leaders, including Kazi Zafar and Ruhul Hawlader protested the party chairman's unilateral decision to join the four-party alliance without settling parliamentary seat-sharing issues, party insiders said.

On Wednesday, Ershad met BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and discussed the terms and conditions of his joining the coalition. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman also had a meeting with Ershad on Tuesday.

The scheduled extended meeting of the JP has been suspended until further notice. A fresh date for the meeting would be announced later, a party press release said.

JP district unit presidents and general secretaries were supposed to join the meeting.

JP (Ershad) was a component of the four-party alliance when it was formed in 1999, but the former military ruler quit it in April 2001, several months before the last general election.

Meanwhile, Ershad yesterday said his party is preparing to participate in the next general elections.

He was talking to reporters following a meeting with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Patricia Butenis at his Banani office.

Butenis met Ershad as part of her continued talks with leaders of major parties about the political situation in the country and the general elections. Earlier, she met Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and BNP chief Khaleda Zia.

Ershad told Butenis that his party would contest the upcoming elections and will help the caretaker government hold free and fair polls.

Ruhul Hawlader and JP Vice-chairman Golam Mosih were also present at the meeting.

Later, Butenis told newsmen, "I hope all the political parties will participate in the next election."

The US ambassador also met Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami yesterday, and urged all political parties not to resort to violence.

"I don't think any problem can be resolved through violence," she told reporters after almost an hour-long meeting at the Jamaat central office.

Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Mohammad Beheshti Monfared also met the JP chief at his office yesterday. They discussed bilateral and international issues. They also discussed holding the next elections in Bangladesh in a free, fair and impartial manner, a JP leader told reporters.