"Appointment of the new election commissioners -- SM Zakaria and Justice Mahfuzur Rahman -- is politically motivated and non-transparent," the SCBA said in a declaration at a protest rally at its auditorium.

The apex body of the lawyers also declared CEC Justice MA Aziz and Mahfuz 'undesirable persons' for what it said is their anti-people and unconstitutional role, and demanded legal action against Mahfuz for his comments on the High Court (HC) directive that the Election Commission is not obliged to comply with it.

The SCBA said the CEC's non-compliance with the HC directive to consult his colleagues to decide on the voter list, continuing preparation of a fresh list and appointment of 'disputed' persons as election commissioners expose 'dishonest attitude' of the CEC.

The CEC ignored the other two election commissioners -- Munsef Ali and Mohammad Ali. Appointment of the two new election commissioners is intended to justify his unconstitutional move and contempt court of court, the SCBA said.

Speakers at the rally, chaired by SCBA Vice President Shah Mohammad Jahurul Haque, expressed deep concern that the democratic order will be destroyed with the 'politicisation' of the EC, which they noted is one of the basic institutions which ensures exercise of their franchise.

Appointment of the new election commissioners clearly proves the BNP-Jamaat coalition government has politicised the administration, police and judiciary to manipulate the next general election, said Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam.

He alleged that Zakaria was the key person in all vote riggings during Ershad's autocratic rule and also the BNP rule. So, his appointment as election commissioner is not at all acceptable, and it shows the present government's ill intention to cling to power by manipulating the next elections, he said.

" This government even appointed partisan people, excluding the minorities, as upazila election officers through the politicised Public Service Commission," the eminent lawyer said.

He called upon all to boycott the CEC and the new election commissioners and demanded enactment of laws specifying necessary qualifications and conditions for appointment of election commissioners.

Former SCBA president Abdul Baset Majumder said the government is destroying the foundation of democracy by politicising the EC.

The CEC is making all efforts to have majority support in the EC to help the present government cling to power in an autocratic way, he added.

SCBA Secretary Enayetur Rahim said the CEC is violating laws since his very appointment to this post, and the two new election commissioners would back him in this regard.

He mentioned that the law minister is justifying the new appointments saying it is aimed at ending inactivity of the EC. It is unfortunate for the nation, he regretted.

The lawyers' leaders asked all to strengthen the people's movement to resist such undemocratic activities.

The SCBA will hold protest rallies at noon on January 22 at all the bar associations across the country protesting appointment of the new election commissioners and demanding their removal.