The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pulack Ghatack

The persisting political knot is yet to untie as the Election Commission is awaiting Awami League’s reaction to BNP’s acceptance of its earlier proposal to push back the long awaited parliamentary polls to December 28 from December 18.

But, AL said that it would confirm its position after getting the government and EC’s views on the BNP-led alliance’s demand for deferring the election for 10 days.

The Commission yesterday initiated fresh talks with the key players in power politics to reschedule the election date in a bid to accommodate the BNP-led alliance in the fray.

After holding a threadbare meeting with a 4-party alliance delegation yesterday Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda said the commission’s only target is to stage an all-inclusive election battle, which is crucial for transition to democracy.

“Our discussion was satisfactory,” the CEC told reporters while leaving his office late in the afternoon on a rather busy weekend for the Election Commission due to dilemmas over the polls.

“This is an important national issue. And we will try to finish it at an appropriate time,” he added.

The Commission expects to sit with the Awami League-led grand alliance, the other party in the tug-of-war, today in their bid to work out a consensus on the timing of the elections.

Awami League is ready to respond if the Commission and the government invite it for talks, AL spokesperson Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters yesterday.

“We don't know the subject of discussion between Begum Zia and the government. We are waiting. But, still we want the election on December 18 as announced earlier,” he added.

Asked about his party’s reaction to the latest demand of 4-party alliance he said, “We are waiting for the decision of the Commission and the government and we will convey our opinion in this regard afterwards.”

BNP leader and former prime minister Khaleda Zia said late Thursday she would contest if the government defer the national election by 10 days.

She also urged the government to lift the state of emergency, imposed almost two years ago, from Sunday, when nominations for the elections close, and said the army should stay out of the political process.

Ashraful said the EC had made changes to the schedule "on more than one occasion and that too unilaterally, without consulting us".

"Such changes have certainly hampered our preparations, as we have been working keeping in view the December 18 date for the national polls."

He said BNP should take part in the election as December 18 is the right time for the polls.

“We had an important discussion,” BNP vice-chairman MK Anwar who led the 4-party delegation, told reporters after their two-hour meeting with the EC.

He said the discussion focused on details of Begum Zia’s propositions for making the elections successful.

Asked whether the Commission accepted December 28 as new polling-day, Anwar said, “We hope the Commission will take necessary steps considering our position.”

BNP leaders Nazrul Islam Khan and Rizvi Ahmed and Jamaat leaders Mohammad Qamaruzzaman and Adv Jasimuddin Sarker were on the delegation in the with Chief Election Commissioner Dr Shamsul Huda and Commissioners Sohul Hossain and Brig Gen (retd) Shakawat Hossain.