Such consultations will take place with the other political parties, civil society members and professional bodies as well to work out ways to reconstitute the Election Commission (EC) in a week.

Two advisers, CM Shafi Sami and Advocate Sultana Kamal, called on the AL president to convince the 14-party combine not to go for any tough agitation programmes on expiry of its November 3 ultimatum, said a number of advisers yesterday.

AL and its allies issued the ultimatum to the caretaker government to meet their 11-point demand.

The advisers said in line with the consensus among themselves, they will keep consulting different political and professional bodies and civil society on how to make the EC effective.

The meeting between Hasina and the two advisers has drawn angry reactions from the immediate past ruling alliance. BNP and its lawyers' wing at separate press conferences yesterday demanded resignation of the two advisers for what they said was losing neutrality.

Meanwhile, some advisers said the Bangabhaban should come forward to clarify the situation by issuing a statement, but as of last night, no statement or clarification was sent to the media.

"There is nothing to dispute. It is our unanimous decision that we'll consult all political parties, civil society members and professional bodies to reach a consensus on reconstitution of the Election Commission in a week. We [the advisers' council] felt the need for such exchanges of opinions especially after we could not find a solution in the last two days' meeting," Adviser Dr Akbar Ali Khan told The Daily Star yesterday, urging all not to dispute the matter.

"Time is very short. We have to take a decision on restructuring of the Election Commission. If the disputes go on, we'll not be able to work smoothly towards the conduct of a free and fair election," noted Akbar Ali, a former cabinet secretary.

He also said they do not have enough time to go through all the formalities in seeking opinion from the political parties and civil society. "It will take a long time to follow the conventional ways to meet them," he added.

"We have already communicated with some other major political parties about the issue," the adviser for finance, planning, commerce and post and telecommunications said without mentioning any name.

Talking to The Daily Star, Adviser M Azizul Haque said Sultana Kamal and Shafi Sami met the AL leader on a consensus among the advisers. "They did not go there in their personal capacity," he added.

Referring to the 14-party alliance's extension of deadline by a week, the adviser said, "You see... hasn't the meeting brought a good result?"

Azizul Haque, also a former inspector general of police, said they will keep trying for a consensus among the political parties regarding reorganisation of the EC.

When contacted, Adviser Yasmin Morshed said the interim administration has a very little time to create an environment conducive to free and fair conduct of the next general election. "We will have discussions with the political parties and civil society personalities measures to ensure an acceptable election," she said.

Adviser Shafi Sami yesterday told The Daily Star, "I was sent there on a specific assignment according to a consensus decision of the council of advisers."

Adviser Sultana Kamal said, "I went there (residence of AL chief) on advice of President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed."

"If communicating with a political leader means I have lost my neutrality then it happened much before my meeting with the 14-party leader when Mr Bhuiyan himself had contacted me over telephone the day before," she told The Daily Star, referring to her telephone conversation with BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan on Wednesday.

"I believe in dialogue rather than in confrontation to solve problems," she added.

"I'm not afraid of doing anything that might help to avert any undesirable situation," said Sultana Kamal, also an eminent human rights leader.

At Thursday's meeting, Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed expressed concern over the AL-led alliance's ultimatum to meet their 11-point demand by November 3, a number of advisers told The Daily Star yesterday.

The president at the adviser's council meeting assigned the two advisers to meet the AL chief and request her not to opt for any programmes that might set off violence, meeting sources said.

Besides, through the two advisers Iajuddin communicated to the 14-party alliance the message that his government has initiated measures to reorganise the EC. The meeting also decided to seek opinions from other major political parties, civil society and professional bodies.