The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The government yesterday decided that the parliamentary and upazila elections will be held as per the schedule on December 18 and 28 because of "lack of consensus of two major political alliances on a new schedule.

Briefing reporters, government spokesman and Adviser for Commerce Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the government had offered to defer parliamentary elections by 10 days and upazila by 11 days and to withdraw the emergency at a logical point of time keeping in view law and order.

He said the government also assured enforcement of section 91(e) of the Representation of People Order (RPO) with complete transparency.

But both the political alliances did not come to a consensus on acceptance of the government offer, he said.

The proposals were floated in view of the 4-point demand raised by the BNP-led 4-party alliance in consultation with the Election Commission.

Hossain Zillur said the government did this keeping in this view the greater interests of the nation even though the demands were raised at the fag end of the process of preparation for the polls.

The announcement was made after series of meetings with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda and army chief General Moin U Ahmed, and consultation with top leaders of the two alliances led by BNP and Awami League.

The Adviser was scheduled to give the briefing at 4:30pm but it was delayed three and half hours as the government has to take time to reach a conclusion.

Dr Hossain Zillur hoped that all political parties would take part in the forthcoming elections as per schedule for the sake of national interests and practicing sustainable democracy in the country.

He assured that the government and the EC would take all necessary measures and ensure highest alertness to hold the elections on schedule and maintain peace, discipline and security.

"The government hopes all concerned will play their due roles keeping in mind the national interests," he said.

The Adviser readout a one-page written statement and did not respond to questions from journalists.

Four other advisers, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Ghulam Quader and AF Hassan Ariff, Anwarul Iqbal, responsible for the political dialogue with political parties, were present at the briefing.