Dhaka, Jan 16 (BDNEWS) – Amid stiff discord over preparation of voter list in the Election Commission, President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed Monday appointed two new Election Commissioners fueling new controversies in the ongoing voter listing.
Main opposition Awami League has instantaneously rejected their appointments.
The new election commissioners are Justice Mahfuzur Rahman and SM Zakaria.
They have also taken oath from the Chief Justice Syed JR Modassir Husain in the afternoon.
"This is unconstitutional and done with an ill political motive...we don't accept it. We reject such appointment," Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil, MP, told BDNEWS following their appointments.
He said the appointment would hinder flourish of democracy in the country. "The coalition government ventured for such an ill move as people of the whole country are engaged in movement and united with the demand for reforms in the Election Commission for a free and fair election. This step is a bid to foil people's demand," Jalil said.
The AL has been demanding appointment of election commissioners, including the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), based on consensus of all political parties.
They have earlier rejected the appointment of the CEC Justice MA Aziz.
The main opposition also demonstrated at capital's Bangabandhu Avenue area protesting the appointment. They also brought out a procession and chanted slogans amidst tight police guard.
From the demonstration, the AL sidekicks demanded resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and urged the people to make January 19 foot-march by the 14-Party opposition combine to protest the CEC's move to prepare fresh voter list ignoring the High Court verdict a success.
Sources and witnesses in the Election Commission Secretariat said, CEC MA Aziz did not turn up in the office Monday too while the EC officials did not make any comment on the appointments of two new commissioners.
The tenure of the incumbent election commissioners Mohammad Ali and Munsef Ali will expire on April 19.
Both of them took the appointment of two new election commissioners as easy saying it was "quite natural".
Talking to BDNEWS following the appointments, Munsef Ali said he has heard about the appointment.
"Who is joining the commission is not at all a matter. We have taken oath to protect the principles of the Election Commission and the Constitution. We will try our best to uphold the image of the Commission," he said.
Asked if the appointment was a political one, Munsef said, "Their activities will prove it."
EC commissioners MM Munsef Ali and AK Mohammad Ali are of different opinion than the Chief Election Commissioner Justice MA Aziz on the issue of preparing fresh voter list for the next general elections and some other issues. They were also trying to discuss the HC's observations' with the CEC for last couple of days but to no avail.
Although they did not get any appointment to met the CEC, the new Election Commissioners Justice Mahfuzur Rahman and SM Zakaria met the CEC at his residence soon after taking oath.
The CEC kept himself aloof from attending the office immediately after the High Court verdict. Official sources said, he couldn't attend office due to illness.
Newly appointed Election Commissioner Justice Mahfuzur Rahman told journalists that he was communicated at around 12 noon Monday about the appointment.
Responding to queries of journalists, he said: It occurred to me whether I can do anything at this critical juncture of time.
Another newly appointed Election Commissioner SM Zakaria, who has been serving at the EC Secretariat for long in various capacities till Monday, told journalists that he has been appointed for the constitutional post where he must serve with honesty and sincerity.
"We must present a free and fair election to the nation. Nothing I can do now out of Constitution. I will protect the law and the Constitution of the country," he said.
Without mentioning any names of Mohammad Ali and Munsef Ali, he criticised them saying that "some people" behaved like child despite they are holding a national and constitutional post. "This is not fair. The post is very sacred."
He told journalists that the CEC might turn up in the office Tuesday as he is in a sound condition now. However, the physicians have suggested him to take more rest for few days, he added.
The Election commission caught in the discord as the CEC opted for preparing fresh voter list ignoring the opinions of the two other commissioners, who were for updating the existing one.
The issue went to the court as three Awami League lawmakers filed two writ petitions in the High Court challenging, among other things, the validity of the CEC's unilateral decision to prepare fresh voter list.
The HC on July 4 disposed of the writs asking the EC to take all the decisions on the basis of majority opinions and also asked to convene EC meeting immediately.
It also asked the Election Commission to prepare the voter-list for next general elections based on the existing electoral roll of 2000.
After the HC verdict, the CEC stopped attending the office apparently to allow the ongoing voter listing that started on January 1 going and avoid convening meeting of the EC.
BDNEWS/1958 hrs