Meanwhile, opposition leaders and civil society personalities expressed their fears that the latest decision of the government to appoint a new election commissioner, while ignoring the opposition's demand for electoral reforms, will deepen the present political crisis by making it more difficult to hold a free and fair election accepted by all.

Ruling party leaders however believe that the decision will strengthen the EC for holding a free and fair election.

In a sudden move on Thursday the government decided to appoint Mahmud Hasan Monsur, a former secretary to the defence ministry, as an election commissioner. He is likely to take oath tomorrow.

Hafiz Uddin Khan, former adviser to a caretaker government said, "It is a wrong decision to appoint a new commissioner when there is no alternative to restructuring the EC for holding an acceptable election."

The opposition leaders strongly condemned the appointment of Monsur saying he had been promoted to the post of a secretary under the 'presidential quota' and he is not a neutral person at all. But the ruling party leaders dispute the claim.

"He hasn't taken the oath yet so how the opposition labels him as biased?" Communication Minister Nazmul Huda told The Daily Star yesterday.

"Everything will go in accordance with the constitution but the opposition wants to foil the next election that's why they have raised questions about democratic institutions," he said.

Tofail Ahmed, a presidium member of AL, told reporters that the government appointed Monsur, who is from Gabtoli in Bogra, the prime minister's constituency, as its own man.

"The EC must be reshuffled following discussions with the opposition," he said.

In an interview with a TV channel Monsur said, "My track record shows that I have been working as a public servant with neutrality."

Law Minister Moudud Ahmed said to a TV channel yesterday, "According to the law there is no scope for discussing the matter with the opposition."

BNP sources said the party high ups took the decision to appoint an election commissioner to keep pressure on the opposition, which is agitating for implementation of its proposal for electoral reforms.

An influential section of the government is now planning to appoint yet another election commissioner to ensure its control on the EC as the government policy makers are determined to dominate the commission at any cost, government sources said.

Previously the government appointed SM Zakaria and Justice Mahfuzur Rahman as election commissioners, prompting the opposition to strongly protest their appointments.

Opposition sources said both of them are also known as BNP supporters.