Chief Adviser suggests minimum voter age of 17

 "I may or may not choose that age. Suppose, I am in favour of making young people voters early. The younger they are, the more interested they are in change—this is my argument. Their youth gives them strength," the chief adviser said.

He said the youths' deep relations with information technology provides them this strength

Mentioning that the number of young people are huge, he said they are interested in building the future of the country.

"I do not know what the Election Reform Commission will recommend. But if the majority of the people of the country like the age to be recommended by the Commission, I will accept it to reach a consensus," the chief adviser said.

He said the government has constituted 15 reform commissions for the country while the Commissions will submit their reports in January.

Prof Yunus said: "All the commissions will place many recommendations to us. We have now reached a stage that whatever anyone's opinion, we want to accomplish the reform works by quickly establishing a consensus."

He said the interim government wants to make arrangements so that "we can move forward on the path of elections".

Prof Yunus said it is the responsibility of all-every citizen, political party, every social, economic, business and religious community-to participate in the reform process with joy.

Noting that the reform and election preparations will continue simultaneously, he said it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to arrange polls.

Citizens do not have to spend time on this process until they get the polls schedule, but they must participate in the works of reform, the chief adviser said.

He said those who are voters will participate (in the reform), and those who will be voters in the future should also fully engage themselves in the reform process.

Prof Yunus said the responsibility of each reform commission is to identify the main alternatives and recommend one of tho