Considering the current economic situation, the government has not approved the proposal of buying 200,000 new electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the electoral authority was not disappointed, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday while speaking to the reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban three days after the Planning Commission suspended the new EVM project through a letter.
"There is nothing to be disappointed about," CEC said, “Due to the country's economic situation, the government is unable to buy us EVMs."
The Election Commission desired EVM voting in a maximum of 150 constituencies. For that purpose, the commission sent a project proposal to the Ministry of Planning in October last year for the purchase and management of 200,000 EVMs at the cost of Tk8,711.44 crore.
Kazi Habibul Awal said, “Election can be held in 30-50 constituencies with the EVMs we have.”