Most of the top AL leaders are in dark about when the election will be held and expressed their worries in this regard.

"We do not know when the election will actually be held or what the caretaker government is going to do", a frustrated AL organising secretary told The Daily Star.

AL Joint General Secretary Obaidul Quader told The Daily Star, "We want from the caretaker government a time frame for holding the next election as early as possible. We also want to know its specific agendas about holding the elections."

Meanwhile, a group of senior AL and 14-party alliance leaders want the caretaker government to hold the election within April. These leaders are even preparing grounds for pressurising the caretaker government in this regard, said highly placed sources in the AL.

They are also discussing the matter "informally" with foreign diplomats, who the AL leadership believes could play a vital role in persuading the interim government to hold the election as early as possible, especially before the budget session in June.

AL high-ups have endorsed some of its top leaders to discuss holding of the elections within April-May with different foreign diplomats and donor agencies.

Sources said the leaders have been asked to follow a "go slow" policy in this regard and observe closely the initiatives and activities of the caretaker government before commenting on them.

"We want election as soon as possible and we are ready for the election. As the present government took oath as per clause 58(C) of the constitution, we hope they will hold the election within the stipulated 90 days," AL Presidium member Kazi Zafarullah said recently.

He was talking to reporters after a meeting with 14 foreign diplomats at a dinner at his residence in honour of new Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty on January 31 night.

The Indian high commissioner yesterday met AL President Sheikh Hasina at her Sudha Sadan residence and discussed the prevailing situation of the country, especially holding of the next polls.

Talking to reporters, Chakravarty said he hopes an election will be held soon.

Many top AL leaders believe that the AL has the possibility to come to power if the election is held early.

However, all the top leaders of the AL and 14-party alliance want the election be held after preparing of an accurate voter roll, bringing drastic changes through the top to bottom levels in both police and civil administration and other constitutional bodies.

"The election should be held soon to avoid confusion among people," Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon told The Daily Star. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu echoed the view.

"Let the caretaker government disclose its policy and plan for holding the elections," Jatiya Party (Ershad) Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader told The Daily Star.