The EC cited the opinions of its counsel and the attorney general to explain its stand in a working paper for a meeting.

It however did not refer to the issue of law minister's approval of the attorney general's views.

"Counsel for the Election Commission and the attorney general opined that there is no bar or prohibition to initiate steps for preparing the voter list. Depending on the opinion, time limit for related activities including publication of the draft voter list has been fixed," the EC claimed in a working paper for a meeting with senior officials of Dhaka City Corporation over updating the voter list.

Earlier at a meeting with some secretaries, divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners, the EC in a working paper disclosed that the law, justice and parliamentary affairs minister and the state minister of the ministry approved the views of its counsel and the attorney general.

"There is nothing in the judgement of the High Court Division, nor even in observation no-III &IV, prohibiting the preparation of the voter list," the attorney general opined. "It (his opinion) was sent to the Election Commission through the law ministry. The opinion was approved by the law minister and the state minister and secretary of the ministry," said the EC working paper.

The EC's counsel Khandakar Mahbubuddin Ahmed, who is a ruling BNP lawmaker, also informed the chief election commissioner in writing about preparation of the voter list.

"There is no bar to proceeding with preparation of the voter list as decided by the commission in the meeting dated August 6, 2005 according to the ordinance, the rules framed thereunder and schedule prepared by the commission," Mahbubuddin said.

Depending on their opinions, the EC continued preparing a fresh voter list from January 1 while the High Court on January 3 asked the EC to revise the existing voter list.

The EC also published a draft voter list on May 3 after spending Tk 43 crore but the Supreme Court declared it illegal.

Finally, the EC has initiated the process of revising the existing voter list but the finance minister refused to allocate funds for the task unless it (EC) justifies the previous expenditure.