For the best part of 17 years they have refused to be in the same room as each other, let alone exchange words. But Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina Wajed, the former prime ministers known as the “battling begums”, have finally agreed to meet in advance of elections next month.

Their aides made the surprise announcement yesterday, raising hopes of a reconciliation between the pair - both daughters of Bangladeshi independence leaders - whose bitter personal feud has defined politics here for most of two decades.

Mrs Zia, 63, heads the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), while Mrs Wajed, 61, leads the Awami League.

The two “begums”, or Muslim women of rank, last sat down together in 1990, when they joined forces to lead a democratic uprising against General Hossain Mohammad Ershad, the last military ruler of Bangladesh.

They fell out shortly afterwards and alternated as prime minister and opposition leader until 2006, turning Bangladeshi politics into a vicious, zero-sum game, often fought out on the streets.

The army-backed interim Government hopes that the pair will agree to hold a fair election and not resort to violence if they lose.

Several details have to be thrashed out before they can meet. The BNP, which has yet to agree to take part in the election, wants it postponed for two months; the Awami League, which has agreed to participate, wants it held on time.

A BNP spokesman said that Mrs Zia did not want “subject-specific” talks, while Mrs Wajed's spokesman quoted her as saying: “Problems won't be solved if we just meet and have a cup of tea.”

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