The state of emergency, declared on January 11 to quell political riot over the abortive January 22 elections, also completed 120 days yesterday.

The anti-corruption campaign, arrest of alleged corrupt ministers, MPs and businessmen, reforms of the Election Commission (EC) and the Anti-corruption Commission, improving law and order, and establishing stability have earned praise at home and abroad.

However, the government step barring Awami League President Sheikh Hasina from returning home and the reported move to send BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia into exile raised intense debates.

The government reviewed its decisions regarding the two top leaders and apparently relaxed restrictions on movements of both Hasina and Khaleda and meetings with their party leaders.

In the seemingly changed situation, Awami League and BNP leadership have been pressing for lifting restrictions on indoor politics to allow them to discuss proposed reforms of the Election Commission within their party forums.

The major parties have already indicated their positive mindset to some of the reforms announced by the EC last month to ensure a fair and credible election without influence of money and muscle powers.

The EC likes to sit with the political parties to seek their opinions on the proposed electoral reforms that envisage registration of political parties, disclosure of party funds, and disassociation with their students and workers fronts.

The commission assured that they would finalise the reforms in consultation with the political parties, major stakeholders in the election. But the commission cannot open dialogue with the parties due to ban on indoor politics.

On the question of party reforms, both BNP and Awami League, however, said they would do it on their own, not under pressure from outside.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein recently stated that the situation has not come to a point that would encourage the government to lift the ban. He also brushed aside the possibility of lifting the state of emergency.

Reliable sources indicated that the government might lift the ban on indoor politics from June if understanding could be reached with the parties.

Meanwhile, USA, UK and EU lawmakers and officials have been urging the caretaker government to hold the stalled elections as early as possible to return to democracy.

A State Department spokesman in Washington on Wednesday said Bangladesh and Bangladesh's democracy would face setback if a non-elected government stays for an extended period of time.

The country's development partners are supportive of the caretaker government's reforms particularly its current drive against corruption. But they hoped that due process of law would be followed in dealing with the accused in corruption cases.

Chief Adviser Fakruddin Ahmed repeatedly expressed his firm determination to hold the general elections before the end of 2008.