Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) removed six election symbols in a bid to protect voters from being confused by religious-image-based election campaigns.

"We hope the ban on the indoor politics in the country would be lifted by May 8," Sakhawat said while talking to the reporters at his office yesterday.

"The duration of the ban would go beyond three months on May 8, we therefore hope that the government would lift the ban," he said, adding, "It [the lifting of the ban] might be delayed."

Sakhawat made the remarks follow the EC's meeting with the chief adviser on Sunday.

He, however, said, "We will sit with political parties to discuss electoral reforms whenever the government lifts the ban on politics." Replying a query, he said, "We will invite political parties, that are eligible for registration, to discuss the electoral issues."

It may be mentioned, Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda on April 4 made a request in a meeting with Law Adviser Mainul Hosein to lift the ban on internal politics in the country so that the commission could talk to political parties on electoral reforms issue.

"We will sit with whoever is leading the political party concerned during the discussion," said Election Commissioner Sohul Hossain while talking with the reporters.

"We are taking steps to discourage religious-image-based election campaigns so that voters do not get confused. We have decided to remove six election symbols that are related to religious matters," said Sohul Hossain.

The six electoral symbols the EC decided to remove are book, camel, minaret, spinning wheel, sword and seashell.

About the election symbol "scales", Sohul said there is no complain or confusion regarding the scales. "It's a symbol of justice throughout the world," he said, adding, "We measure materials with scales. It is a measurement tool as well as the tool of Allah to mete out justice."