Adviser to the President Mokhlesur Rahman Chowhdury in a news conference disclosed Butenis' remark following a 30-minute meeting between the president and the US envoy in Bangabhaban yesterday where they discussed issues concerning the next election.

"The US ambassador told the president that the demand of some political parties for resignation of President Iajuddin Ahmed from the post of chief adviser is impractical," Mokhles told reporters.

"I have told them (the political parties) their demand is impractical," the president's adviser quoted the US envoy as telling the president.

Two issues featured prominently in the discussion -- the deployment of the armed forces in aid of the civil administration and resignations of the four advisers, Mokhles said.

Later talking to the reporters, the US ambassador said she told the president that the resignations of four advisers were 'unfortunate' as they are honourable personalities and patriots.

She said the president agreed with her but told her that the four new advisers are also firmly committed to working following the footsteps of their predecessors.

About reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC), the president told Butenis that if both the parties agree he would request Election Commissioners SM Zakaria and Modabbir Hossain Chowdhury to go on leave. The president believes the election commissioners would agree to go on leave if both the parties reach a consensus on the matter, Mokhles said.

Consulting with the two major political alliances, the council of advisers headed by Iajuddin in last week finalised a package of proposals including sending of Election Commissioners Zakaria and Modabbir on leaves of absence and appointing new election commissioners to reconstitute the EC. But the president in a sudden move appeared opposed to the idea of sending Zakaria on a leave of absence and unilaterally deployed the armed forces to maintain law and order, prompting resignations of four advisers.

Following non-implementation of the package proposal, Awami League (AL)-led 14-party coalition, Liberal Democratic Party-led National Unity Front, some small political parties and different organisations of professionals have bolstered their demands for resignation of Iajuddin from the office of CA and appointment of a 'neutral person' to the post.

The president's adviser in an unusual move yesterday invited journalists in his office in Bangabhaban and briefed them about the discussion between the president and the US envoy.

The US ambassador discussed issues concerning the next month's parliamentary election and reiterated the US position of preferring holding of a non-violent, free, fair and credible election.

The president informed Butenis that the caretaker government has taken all necessary steps to hold a free, fair and neutral election in a peaceful environment and the US ambassador expressed her satisfaction over the measures initiated by the government so far, Mokhles said.

"The United States will continue supporting the caretaker government in holding a free and fair election for continuity of the constitutional and democratic process," Butenis was quoted by Mokhles as saying.

The president's adviser said Iajuddin and the US envoy agreed that political parties have come very close to solving the crisis and to overcoming their disagreements on electoral issues, leaving only some trivial matters unsettled.

They hoped that the parties would come forward to resolve the trivial disagreements through their wisdom, intelligence, farsightedness and sense of patriotism.

Butenis also apprised the president of her meetings with four-party alliance leader Khaleda Zia and 14-party coalition leader Sheikh Hasina.

On the army deployment, Butenis observed that it is necessary to ensure that the army acts neutrally. They will monitor whether the forces deployed in aid of the civil administration are working neutrally, she added.

President and CA Iajuddin Ahmed assured the US envoy that all the forces will discharge their duties neutrally during the election just like they did in the past. "I have already directed the administration and all the forces to work neutrally," he was quoted by Mokhles as saying.