The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission has decided to defer the scheduled parliamentary elections for nine to 11 days to give the BNP led 4-party alliance an extended time for poll preparation to ensure their participation.

The Commission expects to announce a fresh schedule today and the new polling date is likely to fall between December 27 and 29, CEC ATM Shamsul Huda said yesterday after holding a crucial dialogue with the leaders of Awami League-led grand alliance.

The Commission on Friday began 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.

The Commission however, failed to build any consensus on the polling date issue as the AL-led grand alliance did not agree to "shoulder it" which they said a responsibility of the EC.

The grand alliance leaders, however, did not make any effort to influence the Election Commission to push back the scheduled parliamentary election or to hold it on December 18, sources inside the meeting said.

"We did not want to shoulder the liability as it rests on the Commission," said Gonotontri Party Presidium Member Muhammad Shahidullah Sikder.

"We have told the commission that they will have to decide whether they would give any extra time or facilities to a particular party or alliance. We are fully prepared to contest the polls on December 18, as the Commission has scheduled it," he told the New Nation last night.

Dr Shamsul Huda told reporters after the meeting,

"There is nothing to tell you at this moment. We've discussed different issues, but nothing has been finalised. The election commission will take the final decision and announce a new schedule tomorrow."

On the question of lifting the state of emergency, the CEC said it is not the business of the Commission.

Earlier, Ashraful told reporters that they were not involved in the discussion on election schedule. Three parties-the 4-party alliance, the Election Commission and the government-are involved in the rescheduling of the elections.

He said the EC earlier had voluntarily declared December 18 election schedule and their candidates filed nomination papers according to that schedule. Awami League, he added, wants all party elections.

"We've told the EC that we'll give our reaction after discussion with our allies on whatever decision the commission takes," Ashraful said.

He said Awami League and its alliance partners are now busy with nomination work across the country.

Ashraful accused Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur of lying to the nation, either deliberately or mistakenly. Referring to the last meeting of five Advisers with Sheikh Hasina, he said the Adviser had told them that they had no specific agenda and also informed them that the government's discussion with the 4-party alliance had failed.

The AL leader alleged that the Advisers, having failed to reach consensus on the election schedule, blamed the two alliances. He castigated Dr Zillur and the government for their role.

The leaders of BNP-led alliance on Friday demanded new election schedule, as well as lifting of the emergency and a review of electoral laws that allow election authorities to cancel candidacies.

The grand alliance delegation comprised AL acting secretary and spokesman Syed Ashraful Islam, office secretary Abdul Mannan and election affairs committee chairman HT Imam, Jatiya Party presidium member Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, JSD general secretary Syed Zafar Sajjad, Gonotontri Party presidium member Mohammed Shahidullah Sikder and Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal general secretary Dilip Barua.