The parliamentary standing committee on the defence ministry included the issue on its agenda of next Saturday's meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

AL policymakers sounded positive on joining the meetings under pressure from its lawmakers who favour the main opposition party participate in the committee proceedings, insiders said.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil told The Daily Star last night their stand on attending meetings of the parliamentary bodies would be made known today.

The AL lawmakers, who were drafted on the parliamentary committees last month, 14 months into their constitution, are likely to demand an army probe into the grenade attacks at Saturday's meet, if they join.

Leader of the Opposition and AL President Sheikh Hasina has already said the army uses the types of grenades that went off at her party's rally. She asked the army to probe the source of the grenades.

A senior AL lawmaker, who is a member of the standing committee on defence ministry, yesterday tried to meet the party chief to ask her if he should attend the committee meeting. But he could not meet Hasina, as she was in her house retreat.

The lawmaker left a note for the party chief, urging her to decide on the party lawmakers joining the committee meetings, specially Saturday's one, sources at the Sudha Sadan, the residence of the AL chief, said.

The message was conveyed to Hasina for her consideration, the sources added.

"Earlier, we had received the party general secretary's directive forbidding us from joining the parliamentary committees. Now we are waiting for fresh directives from the party high-ups," AL lawmaker Shawkat Ali, who is a member of the parliamentary body on defence ministry, told The Daily Star yesterday.

Working papers and notice of Saturday's meeting have been sent to AL lawmakers ASHK Sadique, also a member of the body, and Shawkat Ali.

Shawkat recently met the committee chairman at his Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban office and expressed willingness to attend the meeting.

"The party will decide about whether we will join the committee," Shawkat added.

"I may join Saturday's meeting if I stay in Dhaka on that day," Sadique The Daily Star yesterday, adding he would be away in his constituency for a programme.

Saturday's meet will discuss in detail news reports and columns on the army's links to the grenade attack that killed 20 and wounded more than 200.

"We want an end to the debate that tarnishes the image of our armed forces. So we will discuss the issue and adopt a resolution asking all quarters not to trigger any debate involving the army," committee Chairman Mahbubur Rahman said yesterday.

The former army chief also said a section of people created a controversy linking the army to the grenade attack. Even former army chief Mustafizur Rahman and eminent Indian columnist Kuldip Nayar made objectionable remarks about the army, he alleged.