The BNP is taking preparations for contesting the next parliamentary election though political parties are yet to reach a consensus on the election-time government.

The ruling Awami League wants the current government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to remain in office as per constitutional provisions.

But the BNP-led alliance wants a new form of government, which they term “supportive government” to run the polls-time administration.

Many top leaders of the party hope that the government will ensure a participatory election scheduled for 2019.

The BNP has already started formulating its election manifesto, reorganising the party's district and other committees, short-listing candidates and preparing an election-time government formula, said party insiders.

It has already started bringing back “reformist” leaders who were expelled from the party for their “controversial” roles during the army-backed caretaker government in 2007-08.

Amir Khoshru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP's standing committee member, said the party was now working to prepare an election-time supportive government formula which would be unveiled by the party chief.

Party insiders and well-wishers believe that it is not possible to compel the government to accept the demand for holding election under a non-partisan administration through street movements.

They said the party would likely to compromise on the election-time government and participate in the elections.

“We will place some proposals on the election-time government and there will be some alternatives to the proposals,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He, however, denied elaborating on the proposals.

The party started talking with various social and professional organisations to mobilise mass opinion in favour of its demand.

A BNP standing committee member, wishing anonymity, said the party already started the process of selecting the most prospective candidates and preparing its election manifesto.

“We are taking all-out preparations for the next election and also pressing the government for an election-time supportive government to hold the next election,” said the BNP policymaker.

Chairperson Khaleda Zia will make a list of prospective candidates after consulting with pro-BNP intellectuals and professionals, a BNP leader close to Khaleda told The Daily Star.

Pro-BNP senior citizens would also prepare a list of prospective candidates.

Besides, the party has appointed a private organisation to prepare another list of the popular leaders in all 300 constituencies on the basis of public opinion, party sources said. They, however, did not say the name of the private firm.

Using his own network in the party, BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman would prepare another list, the sources added.

Khaleda also asked the party high-ups to take opinion of pro-BNP intellectuals and senior citizens to prepare a list of BNP leaders who they think would be better candidates to contest the next general election.