The uncertainty over using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in 150 parliamentary seats in the upcoming 12th national election is not over yet as the election commission has not enough EVM machines and it is not sure about the import of these amid the ongoing reserve crisis.
Election commissioners are concerned about getting the government’s approval of spending Tk 8,711 crore amid the economic crisis. However, without the approval of the project, the Election Commission (EC) couldn’t start taking preparation for the parliamentary election as the method of taking votes through EVMs and ballot papers is not all the same.
Voting through ballot papers needs purchasing a huge amount of papers and other materials if the government wants to vote in ballot papers in all the 300 parliamentary seats.
According to EC officials, if the EVM project isn’t approved by late December or early January next year, it would be impossible to hold a vote through EVMs in 150 constituencies. It takes lots of time to complete all the relevant tasks like giving orders, opening LCs, importing machinery from abroad, testing the quality of the machinery, providing training to the concerned manpower, and sending the machines to the voting centres. Hence, the matter of using EVMs has become uncertain.
The EC under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has been working on holding the national election at the end of the next year or the beginning of 2024. So, the EC decided on August 23 to use EVMs in a maximum of 150 constituencies.
At present, EC has 150,000 EVMs in their hands. However, it has sent a proposal titled ‘Increase the use of EVMs in the electoral system and its sustainable management to the Planning Commission.
In the proposal, it has been stated to purchase 200,000 more EVMs costing Tk 8,711 crore. The Planning Commission returned the proposal for the EVM project by providing suggestions for cost reduction with some other issues.
Later, the EC resent it to the Planning Commission with the signature of technical committee officials. So, now the question is when the EVM project will get approval.
Contacted, Election Commissioner retired Brigadier General Md Ahsan Habib Khan said, “The EC had decided to hold the vote in all the local elections including the Rangpur City Corporation election along with using it in a maximum of 150 parliamentary seats. To hold the vote in 150 seats using EVM, EC has to get the approval of EVM project as soon as possible.”
The EC had conducted almost 900 polls using EVMs and got the results according to the expectation of people, he added.
“Our main goal was to ensure transparency in the election. So, we proposed the use of EVMs to hold a fair and acceptable election. The Planning Commission and the Finance Division will evaluate the accuracy and rationality of the proposal. The EC will follow their final decision in this regard.”
@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on November 6, 2022 and has been rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque and edited by Golam Rosul.
