The commission will also consult with legal experts to examine if it is possible to free the EC Secretariat from the control of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) without amending the constitution.

"The commission wants a long term solution regarding its secretariat although the commission is not facing any problem now in discharging its functions," Humayun said at a weekly press briefing yesterday.

Referring to the recent meeting between the chief adviser and the EC, he said the chief adviser assured the EC of initiating all-out measures to ensure independence of the EC Secretariat.

The EC Secretariat, however, said examining the constitution it appears that an amendment to the constitution is required to separate the EC Secretariat from the PMO, now the office of the chief adviser.

It is not possible to establish an EC Secretariat like the secretariat of the Jatiya Sangsad without amending the constitution and changing the existing laws, a written statement of the EC Secretariat said.

Humayun said the EC will consult with legal experts to see if it is possible to strengthen the secretariat through changing existing laws and rules in case it is not possible to separate its secretariat from the PMO.

The EC Secretariat statement said the secretariat is working under the directives of the EC, which is now discharging its functions independently.

On the dialogue on draft proposals for electoral reforms, Humayun said the EC will hold talks with the editors of different national dailies and senior journalists next Saturday.

Earlier on April 26, the EC held talks with eminent citizens. It, however, cannot hold talks with the political parties because of restrictions on indoor politics.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda at a meeting with the law adviser on April 4 asked the government to lift the embargo allowing the EC to hold talks with the political parties.