The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed is expected to address the nation soon about the much-talked formal dialogue with the political parties.

Adviser for Communications Maj Gen (Retd) Ghulam Quader disclosed this yesterday

while talking to reporters after submitting a report on pre-dialogue informal talks to the Chief Adviser.

The Chief Adviser will speak about the forthcoming political dialogue, the state of emergency and elections in his address to the nation very soon. He (chief adviser) will make the issues clear in his speech to the nation," he said.

Asked about the specific date of the election Ghulam Quader said he could not give a specific date of the polls.

He said the advisers, who were assigned to conduct the informal talks with political parties, reported to the Chief Adviser on the recommendations of pre-dialogue talks.

Replying to a question, he said they have reached a consensus on several issues with the political parties during the pre-dialogue talks, which focused on the entire gamut of issues related to transition from the interim period.

He said the Chief Adviser would present the report at an advisory council meeting, scheduled Wednesday evening, so all advisers may be appraised of the issues raised in the pre-dialogue talks, Quader said.

Replying to a question, Ghulam Quader said the political parties and the Government agreed on a number of issues. "The Chief Adviser will make them clear in his speech," he said.

He, however, said both the Government and political parties have felt the necessity of reforms within the parties.

Earlier, Adviser for Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman told the reporters that the Chief Adviser would give an appropriate guideline about the election schedule and withdrawal of the Emergency Power Rules through his address to the nation.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser's press secretary Syed Fahim Monaim said the advisers who had pre-dialogue consultations with political parties submitted a report on the outcome of the consultations to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday.

He said the Chief Adviser received the report and will go through it.

Replying to a question, Fahim Monaim said the time of the Chief Adviser's address to the nation has not been finalised.