"Jatiya Party is making preparations to participate in the elections," he told reporters after his meeting with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Patricia Butenis at his Banani office yesterday.

He said his party might join the four-party alliance if all the parties and alliances participate in the next polls.

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

During the meeting, Ershad told Butenis that his party would participate in the coming elections and will help the caretaker government hold a free and fair election.

Jatiya Party (JP) Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader and Vice-chairman Golam Mosih were also present during the meeting.

Following the meeting, Butenis told reporters, "I hope all the political parties participate in next election."

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Patricia Butenis 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 later at his office. They discussed issues of bilateral interest and international issues, a JP leader told reporters. They also discussed holding the next elections in Bangladesh in free, fair and impartial manner.

Ershad met Khaleda on Wednesday and discussed the terms and conditions of his joining the BNP-led coalition. BNP Senior Secretary General Tarique Rahman also held a meeting with Ershad on Tuesday. The JP chairman is taking his time to discuss the matter with his party leaders. He told reporters that discussions are going on before a final decision is made.

Meanwhile, the extended meeting of JP scheduled for November 4 and 5 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 sources said the meeting was suspended due to the current volatile political situation.