It described the time frame as hypothetical.

A team of experts from the Bangladesh Army on Wednesday said the voter list with photographs and national ID cards could be prepared within up to six months since beginning of the task at the field level. It also gave journalists a demonstration of how the job would be done.

"It's not possible to complete the task in less than 18 months. The six-month time frame is mere notional," Humayun Kabir, the secretary to the EC Secretariat, told a weekly press briefing yesterday.

According to the commission, at least six months are needed for preparation including readying the project proposal and purchasing necessary equipment while 12 months for the field level work.

The EC secretary however said they have been seriously considering the method proposed by the army for preparing the electoral register with photographs.

On several occasions since February, experts from the armed forces have showed the council of advisers and the EC how they would go about the job. The EC on May 14 decided to have a complete digital electoral roll prepared at voter registration centres across the country.

"The decision followed careful consideration of the options and proposals submitted by the army and the commission's consultants," the secretary said.

He added that the EC decided in favour of preparing the voter roll from camps after discussion with its consultants who have started working early this month.

Asked if there would be any demonstration of the consultants' voter-listing method, Kabir said he would convey the message to the EC.

Referring to the army's time frame, he argued that perhaps they (army) have estimated only the time for gathering particulars of the prospective voters, whereas many things will still have to be done after that.

However, the army experts showed journalists the full procedure of preparing the voter list with photographs and national ID cards. They said in their method, enumeration can be done through door-to-door visits as well, but in that case more time would be required.

They said the voter registration centres should be set up in the middle of neighbourhoods meaning closer to the people.

When his attention was drawn to the details of the army's model, the secretary said it's not possible to say anything until the field level work begins. He said a pilot project will begin soon.

The EC will be happy if the job could be done in less than 18 months, he observed adding, "But I don't buy that the voter list can be prepared in six months."

He said a tender for purchase of equipment will be floated by this month.

CEC ATM Shamsul Huda on April 5 said it would take at least 18 months to prepare the voter list with photographs. Announcing the time frame, he said it was the minimum time needed for the task and there is no room for winding it back.

In accordance with the time limit, the field level task was supposed to begin in late September, but lately the EC has announced that it will begin in August.