Even President/ Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed in his midnight address to the nation did not mention from when Aziz will go on leave.

The CEC chief has also set a condition that he will stay in the country under full security protection from the government, Iajuddin revealed in his address.

Ending a three-day long suspense, an emergency meeting of the council of advisers to the caretaker government (CG) last night confirmed the CEC's verbal communication and it also decided that the president will appoint two more election commissioners. But the president did not inform the council when the appointments will be made. He however told the advisers that they will be informed in due time, according to sources.

If things go the way they seem to be going, the next general election will be held for the first time under an EC headed by an acting CEC and with the highest number of election commissioners in the history of the commission.

But, Awami League (AL)-led 14-party coalition's demand for removal or resignation of Election Commissioner SM Zakaria has not been met yet. A delegation of the coalition last night met the president with the demands for removal of Zakaria also, and a thorough reconstitution of the EC immediately.

Meanwhile, the coalition led by AL told the media last night that its indefinite countrywide blockade will continue until all of its electoral demands are met.

Sources said Zakaria will be made inactive just like former election commissioner Safiur Rahman was made inactive before the last parliamentary election in 2001 on objection from BNP.

The plan was made by the council of advisers following BNP's strong opposition to removal of Zakaria from the office, the sources added.

One might be made the acting CEC from the two new election commissioners, in absence of MA Aziz, the sources said.

BNP also demanded enough security from the caretaker government for holding its electoral campaigns and put a condition that 14-party cannot be allowed to bring out any victory procession following the disclosure of Aziz's decision of taking a leave of absence.

Meanwhile, the advisers yesterday at an informal meeting in the secretariat finalised five names and proposed them to the president for appointments to the posts of two new election commissioners. The president short listed three names comprising former cabinet secretary Dr Sad'at Hossain, and former secretaries MM Reza and Faizur Razzak, the sources said.

The president also discussed the plan with the 14-party delegation and he will decide his next course of action on receiving reaction from the delegation, the sources added.

"The chief election commissioner has verbally informed the president that he will take a three-month leave of absence. The president is now waiting for an official written confirmation," Information Adviser Mahbubul Alam told reporters last evening emerging from the council meeting held in Bangabhaban.

A meeting source said the president informed the council of advisers about the CEC's verbal consent to go on a leave at the very beginning of the meeting.

The information adviser could not specify when the leave will begin, as Aziz did not inform the president about his decision officially in writing yet. He however said the CEC might go on a leave any time soon.

Asked, who will act as the CEC in absence of Aziz, Mahbubul said the president will decide it in accordance with the laws.

Replying to a query, the information adviser said the president will address the nation on receiving a formal letter from the CEC. Meanwhile, an adviser on condition of anonymity, told The Daily Star last night that the president will deliver the address to the nation following a meeting with AL-led 14-party coalition.

When journalists asked the adviser whether the two new commissioners will be appointed on the basis of a consensus among electoral parties, he said, "There hasn't been a decision on that yet."

Adviser Dr Akbar Ali Khan however told reporters yesterday afternoon that the president and chief adviser assured them of appointing non-party persons to the EC who will be acceptable to all.

Following the presidential initiative to break the political deadlock on Monday, the day a presidential delegation met MA Aziz, the entire country was waiting with anticipation for news of a positive result, but CEC MA Aziz took three days to inform the president about his decision.

The anticipation for his resignation was mounting since yesterday morning as he refrained from attending office without initiating the process of taking a leave of absence. If Aziz had preferred to take a leave of absence, he would have to authorise an election commissioner to act as the CEC through holding a meeting of the EC.

Election Commissioner Justice Mahfuzur Rahman yesterday afternoon categorically said the EC did not hold such a meeting to discuss the issue. "In fact, I am not aware of it," he told reporters replying to a query on whether Aziz had authorised him to act as the acting CEC.

Officials of the EC Secretariat also expressed their ignorance about the reason for the sudden absence of Aziz from the office. "We don't know anything about the reason why he (Aziz) did not attend the office today," Mohammad Zakoria, in charge of additional secretary to the EC Secretariat, told reporters yesterday afternoon.

Before rushing to Bangabhaban yesterday noon, Secretary to the EC Secretariat Abdur Rashid Sarkar told reporters that he would brief the newsmen on his return from the president's office. But he did not return to the EC Secretariat.

The sudden absence of Aziz from the office also triggered speculations in the EC Secretariat about his next course of action.

One election commissioner however communicated with MA Aziz over the telephone, but he declined to say anything about their conversation.

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Justice Mahfuzur Rahman said he did not have any communication with MA Aziz. "I cannot communicate with him to discuss the delicate matter of whether he will take a leave of absence or resign."

CEC MA Aziz, who assumed the office on May 23 last year during the BNP-led alliance government's regime, has been mired in controversy regarding preparation of the voter list over the last 18 months.

Along with major political parties, different organisations of professionals and civil society personalities have also been demanding reconstitution of the EC for holding a free and fair election. In a recent development, foreign diplomats also started speaking against the Aziz-led EC saying the people have lost confidence in the present commission.

As a result, the council of advisers to the caretaker government from its first meeting on November 1 started searching for ways to make the EC credible, but they faced enormous difficulties as MA Aziz refused to resign, forcing the advisers to hold dialogues with political parties from November 13 to 15.

During the talks, most of the political parties strongly demanded reconstitution of the EC through removal of Aziz. Finally, the president decided to initiate the recent move on Monday night as 14- party resumed its countrywide indefinite blockade after a four-day break.

On Monday, the president sent a three-member delegation to persuade MA Aziz to take a leave of absence or to resign for resolving the political crisis.

Justice Sultan Hossain Khan and Justice AKM Sadeque, two former CEC's, had resigned from the post in 1991 and 1996 respectively in the face of similar popular movements demanding their ouster.