In a resolution adopted at a meeting yesterday, the left leaning 11-party described the appointments as a shameful effort of the BNP-Jamaat alliance to politicise the EC.

The meeting held at Workers Party office also observed that the commission has been turned into a 'nationalist EC'.

The real character of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Aziz has been exposed now with the new appointments, the resolution said, adding: "This all is being done to implement the ruling alliance's blueprint for election engineering."

It alleged that SM Zakaria has been the one responsible for all the previous vote riggings and his appointment along with CEC's non-compliance with the High Court order has severely undermined the acceptability of the EC.

Instead of heeding to the opposition's demand for reforms, the CEC is busy paving the way for the government to rig the election in its favour, the 11-party resolution added.

Bangladesh Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon presided over the meeting attended among others by its General Secretary Bimal Biswas, Gono Forum Presidium Member Pankaj Bhattacharya, Samyabadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua.

Meanwhile, Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain said appointments of the two new election commissioners and continuation of the work of a faulty voter list, bypassing the HC verdict, have made things even more complex.

"The present situation proves that reforms in Election Commission and implementation of 14-party opposition alliance's 23-point demand are rational," Dr Kamal said at a meeting held at the party's central office.

He observed that people now seem to have little trust in the electoral process.

Calling on all to unite in opposition to the evil forces, the noted jurist said, "We all have to work together to bring about a meaningful change, fighting against black money, corruption and communalism like we did in '52, '66, '69, '71 and in '90."