The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Expressing the hope for holding the general elections ahead of December this year, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday said his Government would start dialogue with political parties immediately after the conclusion of their ongoing talks with the Election Commission.

"Both the Government and the political parties need sometimes for preparations for the dialogue," he said, dropping a broad hint that the Government would talk with each of the political parties separately following method adopted by the Election Commission (EC).

"The talks between the Election Commission and the political parties are already going on successfully. And I hope this talks will end successfully soon to facilitate dialogue between the Government and the political parties," the Chief Adviser said while talking to journalists after getting himself enrolled in the voters' list.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and his wife Neena Ahmed enrolled their names as voters with photographs and fingerprints at Gulshan Model School and College at Gulshan-2 in the capital at noon yesterday.

Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda welcomed the Chief Adviser at the voters' registration center, when senior Army officials, who are involved in the preparation of the voters' list were present on the occasion.

The Chief Adviser looked glad since he registered his name as a voter in a transparent manner.

Replying to a question about the possibility of holding elections ahead of the targeted timeframe (within December 2008), Dr Fakruddin Ahmed said, "The general elections could be held ahead of the time if all polls-preparations, including the voters' list, could be completed earlier."

He asserted, saying, "The elections could be held ahead of the targeted time, if the preparatory activities are completed in time."

The Chief Adviser expressed his satisfaction over the progress of voter listing with photographs through applying modern technology.

Referring to the progress in the preparation of the voters' list, he said the job would be completed smoothly and fairly, and "there is no doubt about it as preparing a fair electoral roll was the demand of all."

He said so far 2.70 crore people have been registered as voters and the registration work was gradually getting momentum.

Dr Fakhruddin said the Election Commission along with the support of others like the Army is carrying out the voter listing work in 'Char' and remote areas of the country.

He expressed happiness and optimism that the Election Commission with the support of the Government would complete the task fairly, which is a precondition to holding a fair, transparent, neutral and acceptable election in time. "And this is being ensured," he further asserted.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda, who was standing beside the Chief Adviser, said both the Government and the EC were hopeful about completing the polls preparations much before December this year, the time limit for holding the general election as per the polls-roadmap.

Referring to his discussion with the Government, including the Chief Adviser, the CEC said, "My impression is that the Government wants to hold the general elections ahead of December and that the Government wants to get the guideline for holding the dialogue on the basis of the outcomes of the ongoing talks between the Commission and the political parties."

"On the basis of my discussion with the Government, I feel that the Government will finalise the agenda of the (political) dialogue on the basis of the result of our talks with the political parties," Dr Huda said, adding, "The Commission will finalise the talks results (reforms) after the discussion with the BNP."

For disposal of the writ petition filed by a faction of the BNP, he said, "The Commission will urge eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain to request the High Court Division of the Supreme Court to dispose of the case immediately."

The case against the EC, as well as the talks between the EC and political parties are being delayed due to lack of interest of the faction of the BNP, which filed the writ petition, since the applicant do not attend hearing of the case in the High Court, he added.