Meanwhile, all ongoing local government elections have been postponed until further instructions, EC Secretary Abdur Rashid Sarkar told reporters at his office after returning from the chief adviser's office yesterday.

"We will invite all political parties, especially the two major alliances, to discuss solutions to the prevailing political deadlock and holding of the ninth parliamentary elections peacefully," Sarkar said.

The EC secretary, however, did not make any comment on the fate of the January 22 elections and the EC position on it--whether the poll has been postponed or cancelled.

"If possible, we will send the invitation letters to the respective political parties today [yesterday]," the EC secretary said after Acting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Mahfuzur Rahman and he held a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Law Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein.

In reply to a question, he said the separate meetings with the two political alliances may take place by tomorrow (Tuesday).

"As meetings and processions are not allowed now, the EC has decided to postpone the local government elections," Sarkar said.

On the nearly two-hour meeting, he said, "We discussed how to address the present prevailing situation and hold a free and fair election by overcoming the present problems."

But they did not discuss the reconstitution of the EC, Sarkar said.

After rescheduling the upcoming election several times, the EC was firm to hold the election on January 22 amidst a boycott by the Awami League-led grand alliance that demanded preparation of a correct voter list and a fresh election schedule.

The CEC and EC secretary earlier said they had no alternative to holding the election within the stipulated 90 days set for the interim caretaker government.