"We are to wait for lifting of the embargo on indoor politics," Election Commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain told reporters at his office yesterday.

The EC last week announced that any political parties could sit with the EC to discuss the draft proposals for electoral reforms by sending representatives despite the embargo on indoor politics.

Law and Information Adviser Mainul Hosein yesterday reiterated the government's 'no objection' if the political parties discuss with the EC on the proposed electoral reforms.

But no political parties, not even the name-only ones, expressed interest in sitting for dialogue with the EC amid the embargo on indoor politics, EC sources said.

"We want to hold discussion with the political parties. But so far we know none of the political parties want to sit in dialogue so long as the embargo on indoor politics remains effective," the election commissioner said.

Rejecting the EC's initiative for discussion with the embargo on indoor politics remaining, the major political parties have said before holding such discussion the ban should go allowing them to hold their party's forum meeting to discuss the proposed reforms.

Several non-government organisations and social welfare bodies, however, met the EC after the draft proposals for electoral reforms were disclosed in April. The EC itself also invited civil society personalities and senior journalists and held discussion on proposed electoral reforms. Some other NGOs are scheduled to meet the EC this week.

In a bid to complete the tasks for electoral reforms by July, Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda on April 4 at a meeting with the law adviser asked the government to withdrew the embargo on indoor politics allowing the EC to hold talks with the political parties.

While the possibility of completing the tasks for electoral reforms by July seems very slim, Election Commissioner Sohul yesterday said there will not be any problem if the task for electoral reforms is delayed.

He said they are now confident about doing the massive task after success of the pilot project to gather field level experience for simultaneously preparing the voter list with photographs and national identity cards.

"We will be able to complete all the tasks within the stipulated time for holding the parliamentary election. We will also have to do some tough tasks like including Bangladesh expatriates and enclave dwellers in the electoral rolls," he said.

The EC will have to demarcate the constituencies too.

The EC yesterday held a meeting with the field level election officials of the Sripur pilot project to review the experiences gathered in the project conducted from June 10 to June 30.