The presidential delegation, that had met the CEC on Monday morning to persuade him to take a decision on whether he will resign or take a leave of absence in an effort to resolve the debilitating political impasse, announced after the meeting that a positive result will come in 24 to 48 hours.

But in the last 36 hours, no new development has been reported although the entire country was waiting with anticipation for news of a positive result all through the day yesterday. It was learnt from an unconfirmed source that the CEC yesterday sought a 90- day leave from the president, which could not be confirmed officially as MA Aziz himself kept mum and the advisers to the caretaker government also said they did not know anything about such a development. Another source however said Aziz is taking preparations to leave the office.

Election Commissioner Justice Mahfuzur Rahman however yesterday said the CEC's decision will be known today.

"You will come to know of it tomorrow," Justice Mahfuz, who attended a series of meetings with the CEC all day long, told reporters yesterday replying to a query while leaving the EC Secretariat at 5:00pm, ending the day long widespread speculations about the decision on which the country's immediate political climate rests.

President Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday said a solution to the ongoing crisis will come in the next one or two days.

Sources said the president will address the nation upon receiving a result of his initiative.

CEC MA Aziz, who came to the office amid tight security at 8.45 in the morning yesterday and had a series of meetings with election commissioners and EC officials, left the office at 4:13pm amid police escort again without saying anything to the media about his next course of action.

Aziz, who was apparently looking very exhausted, kept his lips tight despite a volley of questions from reporters about whether he will resign or take a leave responding to the proposals of the presidential delegation.

The CEC did not attend the Arms Forces Day programme in Senakunja yesterday evening either and cancelled a scheduled meeting with a foreign delegation today, sources said. The officials of the EC Secretariat guessed that the CEC might not attend his office from today amid a widespread rumour that he took a 90-day leave of absence.

Contacted by The Daily Star, Secretary to the EC Secretariat Abdur Rashid Sarkar declined to say anything about the CEC's next course of action.

The secretary, who also attended a series of meetings with the CEC, however said that he did not visit Bangabhaban carrying any message or letter from the CEC to the president.

The presidential delegation comprising three advisers that met the CEC on Monday morning and announced later that they will get a result in 24 to 48 hours, last night said they were also waiting for the CEC's response.

"We don't know anything till now," adviser Sultana Kamal, a member of the presidential delegation, told The Daily Star at 9:15 last night.

The advisers, who attended the Armed Forces Day's function in Senakunja yesterday evening, were also discussing among themselves whether the CEC had informed his decision to the president, but none of them had any information regarding that. They wanted to sit together to discuss the next course of action upon receiving a response from the CEC, which they could not do since they did not have a decision yet, sources said.

President Iajuddin Ahmed however expressed his optimism that the efforts of the advisers to break the present political impasse will be successful, the state run news agency BSS reported yesterday.

"I hope the differences among the political parties will soon be narrowed down and a solution to the crisis will come in the next one or two days," a Bangabhaban spokesman quoted the president as telling the visiting British Deputy Chief of Defence Admiral Charles Style, who called on him yesterday.

The president also told the British admiral that he is trying hard to solve the problem for paving the way for a free and fair election.

CEC MA Aziz who has been rigid on his stance of not resigning however on Monday assured the presidential delegation that he will inform the president about his decision on whether he will resign or take a leave in two days.

Since then all eyes have been set on Aziz to know his decision, but he did not disclose anything yet. He left his office at 4:13pm and did not visit Bangabhaban since arriving at his residence.

A widespread rumour was that the CEC had sent a fax to the president informing his decision to take a 90-day leave of absence. But it could not be confirmed as the advisers to the caretaker government last night expressed their ignorance about such a decision and the officials of the EC Secretariat also expressed the same view.

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Mahmud Hasan Mansur however said he does not know anything about the CEC's decision. "The chief election commissioner did not share it with me. And the issue was not discussed at the meeting. It is his personal matter," he told reporters while leaving the office at 5:00pm.

If Aziz, who assumed the office of the CEC on May 23 last year, takes a leave of absence then an election commissioner will act as the acting CEC, and if Aziz resigns then the president will appoint a new CEC.