The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Election Commission will hold its pending dialogue on electoral reforms with BNP as soon as possible when High Court verdict on the disputed matter comes, as work under the declared electoral roadmap is already decelerating.

"We're hopeful that the verdict will come by April 10 and then we'll sit with BNP for the dialogue as early as possible. We'll not delay," Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told journalists yesterday afternoon.

A decision regarding dialogue with BNP is expected to come on April 10 following the hearing on a writ filed with the High Court. The detained party chairperson, Begum Khaleda Zia, challenged the EC decision inviting the Saifur-Hafiz BNP faction to the electoral dialogue.

"Wait and see… We're not thinking of any alternative," Sohul said as asked if the EC is considering any alternative in case the defeated faction of BNP made an appeal against the verdict.

"The Commission won't appeal against whatever the court verdict would be," he added.

However, talking to the journalists on the same issue Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain on Sunday said the EC's patience would get exhausted if the legal process lingered due to defeated BNP faction's appeal against HC verdict.

"We've our own alternative thought in that case of delay," he said hinting that the draft electoral laws might be finalised by April without holding dialogue with BNP to maintain the EC-announced election roadmap.

The election roadmap, which envisages that the electoral reforms would be completed by March 2008, has already been held back due to the pending dialogue with BNP.

Meanwhile, Dr Kamal Hossain, who is appointed by the EC to handle the legal process, met with the EC in the afternoon to apprise them of the current state of the legal battle over the dialogue with BNP.

"I'm confident that the verdict will come on April 10," he said talking to the journalists after the meeting with the EC.

The BNP-leadership dispute arose when on November 5 last year the EC, ignoring Khaleda-appointed BNP secretary general Khandker Delwar Hossain, sent a letter to Maj (Retd) Hafiz to participate in the dialogue with political parties preparatory to holding the stalled elections.

On November 18 the same year, the High Court, responding to Khaleda's writ, had stayed operation of the EC letter to the BNP standing committee-nominated acting secretary general, Major Hafiz, causing the Election Commission to inconclusively conclude its reform dialogue with political parties.

The Election Commission held its two rounds of dialogues with the parties from September 12 to December 11, 2007 and February 24 to 28, 2008 respectively.