"We informed the president of our activities and progress achieved in the last three months," Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda told reporters at the EC Secretariat after returning from Bangabhaban.

The president asked the EC to work according to the caretaker government's declared time frame so that the parliamentary election can be held by 2008, Huda said.

The CEC went to Bangabhaban with two other election commissioners at the president's invitation to a lunch.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed last month said the stalled ninth parliamentary election will be held before end of 2008.

On April 5, the CEC disclosed a set of proposals for electoral reforms at a press conference, saying no election will be held in the following 18 months--the minimum time required for preparing a voter list with photographs.

On EC initiatives for electoral reforms, Huda said they want to complete the reforms by July or August at the latest.

The EC had planned to hold talks with the political parties to finalise the reform proposals. At a meeting with the law adviser on April 4, Huda asked the caretaker government to withdraw restrictions on indoor politics so that the EC can hold talks with the political parties.

Election commissioners Sahul Hossain and Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain also said on several occasions that they hoped the government will lift the ban soon.

Huda yesterday said the government will lift the embargo when it thinks fit. "Perhaps, the government thinks the situation still does not allow lifting the ban on indoor politics. It will be lifted when the government feels convenient," he said.

In reply to a question, the CEC said he had no discussion with the president about the restriction on indoor politics.

"We have requested the government [to withdraw the restrictions]. Now the government will decide about the withdrawal as it deems fit," he added.

Huda, however, said the EC is not facing any difficulties regarding the electoral reforms because of the embargo. "The election will be held by 2008. So, we have time for the reforms," he said.

Meanwhile, the EC sits tomorrow with constitution experts to examine if the EC Secretariat can be separated from the control of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) without amending the constitution.

The CEC at a meeting with eminent citizens on April 26 said the EC Secretariat cannot be separated from the PMO without amending the constitution, but experts said the amendment is not required for the task.