.jpg)
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said efforts are still there to bring BNP to the next parliamentary elections although it has rejected the EC's requests for dialogue time and again.
"We sent letters to BNP time and again for joining dialogue regarding its participation in the next general elections. But they rejected it. There is no opportunity for a new dialogue with BNP or any other political party regarding the next parliamentary elections.”
The CEC was speaking to the reporters after exchanging views with the government officials at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Patuakhali on Thursday, reports BSS and UNB.
He said EVMs will be used in the by-elections to the parliament seats vacated following BNP's MPs' resignation.
The commission cannot install CCTVs in the polling centres during the by-polls to these seats, he added.
At present, the commission has the capacity of holding elections with EVMs in 50 to 60 seats. The financial allocation has been sought from the government to purchase more EVMs, Kazi Habibul added.
Following the allocation, the commission is planning to buy new machines and hold elections with EVMs in 150 seats in the next parliamentary elections, he continued.
About the present stock of EVMs, he said some EVMs are totally out of order while some machines are still reparable.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
