Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque today said his party had demanded that the interim government hold the national election within this year.

There are three major tasks for the interim government, which are trying the culprits of the mass murder during the July uprising, reforms and holding elections within this year, he told reporters after the first meeting of the National Consensus Commission headed by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

The commission held the meeting with different political parties, alliances and platforms at the foreign service academy. Speaking to reporters outside, Saiful said the commission's co-chair, Prof Ali Riaz, had emphasised that they might adopt a "national charter" based on outcomes of the dialogue.

Saiful said they have urged the government to distribute copies of the six reform commissions' full reports to different stakeholders including political parties.

He said many have pitted the task of holding elections against the reform initiatives and trials, which was a "wrong judgment" he said. Saiful said preparations for elections could continue simultaneously with reforms and trial.

He further said the interim government is "neutral in nature", hoping that it will keep this characteristic intact.