Decision on EVM use not influenced by opinions of parties: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said it was the Election Commission that decided to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the upcoming national election – irrespective of the opinions of political parties.

"The decision of using EVMs is completely our own decision. We have not taken the opinions of political parties into consideration because arranging elections is the responsibility of the EC, not of the political parties," he said while talking to reporters at his office in the capital.

"The move has been taken to ensure the comfort of voters and overall fairness," he added.

A meeting of the commission on Tuesday decided to use the voting machines in up to 150 out of 300 parliamentary seats.

While the ruling Awami League and its allies have welcomed the move, the opposition BNP has criticised the EC heavily, turning down its decision.

In EC's talks with political parties last month, 15 parties opposed the use of EVMs, while 11 including the Awami League voted for it. Although the BNP and its alliance boycotted the dialogue, they too opposed the use of EVMs at various times.

"We have not taken any hasty decision on EVMs. We have tried the devices and their reliability. We also called political parties and technical experts and took their opinions. After a long evaluation, we finally made the decision," the CEC said, adding that crores of voters will have a better experience in exercising their rights with the EVMs.

Asked if any kind of fraud is possible using EVMs, Habibul Awal said the result of polls will answer the question. "We have decided to go for EVMs after gaining complete trust."

AL hails decision of using EVMs 

Awami League  General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday welcomed the Election Commission's decision to use EVMs in up to 150 of the 300 parliamentary seats in the next general election.

"Awami League demanded that EVMs be used in all 300 seats. The Election Commission has agreed to use EVMs in half of the total parliamentary seats. We welcome the decision of the commission," he said while addressing an event to mark the 18th death anniversary of Awami League women's affairs secretary Ivy Rahman.

"We have said that it is good and safe to use modern technology. We do not want a repeat of rigged and fraudulent elections. There is no problem with EVM," he added.

EVMs for favouring ruling party: BNP

The BNP has said the move for using EVMs was taken as per the government's desire to help it retain power.

"The decision of the EC has proved that it has become an associate body of the ruling party. Because, Awami League sought the use of EVMs in 300 seats, but the EC fixed it in 150 ones through a compromise," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at a press conference at the party office in the capital on Wednesday.

In the dialogues with the EC, most political parties, including Jatiya Party, told the commission that they do not want EVMs to be used as people's verdicts will not be reflected through the machines, he said.

"Despite opposition, the current 'illegal' Election Commission has taken the decision to use the EVM only to fulfil the government's desire. People will never accept it and neither will we."

The senior BNP leader also renewed their demand that the next polls must be held through traditional ballots under a non-partisan government to be conducted by a fresh EC.