Polls not on Dec 18, new schedule today

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Chief Election Commissioner Dr Shamsul Huda Saturday said a new schedule for the parliamentary election would be announced Sunday (today), in a broad hint that the December 18 polls could be deferred following the fresh talks with the two main political lineups, reports UNB.
The CEC made the statement after a meeting with the Awami League-led grand alliance Saturday evening, following disagreement between the two alliances on the poll schedule.
On Friday, he had the first meeting with the BNP-led four-party alliance on the rescheduling of the elections as the dialogue reopened to resolve the latest sticking-points in the run-up to the long-stalled polls.
"Nothing to tell you till now… we've discussed various matters, but nothing has been final. The Election Commission will take the final decision. New schedule tomorrow," he told reporters after the meeting with a delegation of the grand alliance, led by Awami League acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam.
On the question of lifting the emergency before elections, Dr Huda said it is not the business of the commission (government is to decide on it).
Earlier, Ashraful told the 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 rescheduling of the elections.
He said the Election Commission earlier had voluntarily declared the December 18 election schedule and their candidates filed nomination papers according to that schedule. Awami League, he added, wants elections with participation of all parties.
"We've told the Election Commission that we'll give reaction after discussion in our alliance on whatever decision the commission takes," Ashraful said.
He said Awami League and its alliance are now busy with nominations 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.
HT Imam and Adv Abdul Mannan Khan of Awami League, Dilip Barua of Samyabadi Dal, Zafar Sajjad of JSD, Ziauddin Bablu of Jatiya Party and Shahidullah of Ganatantri Party were on the delegation that held the meeting with the Election Commission for one and a half hours from 5:45pm.