While the hearing on the petitions filed challenging the unilateral decision of preparing the electoral roll by the CEC will be held on January 2, the Election Commission (EC) has already completed all preparations for starting work on the fresh voter list from January 1.

Being a judge of the Supreme Court, CEC Justice MA Aziz has violated the tradition of showing respect to the court by not waiting till disposal of the writ petitions, barrister M Amir-ul Islam said.

Justice MA Aziz has already made himself nontransparent and politicised the Election Commission, and the Election Commission secretariat and is now going to politicise and make nontransparent the voter-list by taking the decision without caring for the opinions of two other election commissioners and the people, he said.

The Chief Election Commissioner has made the total election process controversial by unilaterally taking the decisions without caring for the opinions of two other election commissioners, Supreme Court Bar Association Secretary advocate M Enayetur Rahim said.

The CEC's move is a proof of his no-confidence in the court, he said.

Awami League lawmakers Abdul Jalil, MP, advocate Rahmat Ali, MP, and Asaduzzaman Noor, MP, on December 12 filed two separate writ petitions in the High Court challenging the validity of the decision of preparing a fresh electoral roll by the CEC without taking consent of two other commissioners and the Election Commission secretariat's appointment of over 300,000 staffs on "political grounds".

The High Court on December 15 asked the Election Commission to submit its statement by January 2 with regard to the writ petitions.