AL wants EVMs used in next general polls

The ruling Awami League has proposed the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next general elections to check vote robbery and rigging, reports BSS.

The AL leaders came up with the proposal at a dialogue with the Election Commission (EC) in Dhaka on Sunday.

A 13-member AL delegation joined the dialogue where Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awala and other commissioners were present.

The AL delegation included AL advisory committee member Amir Hossain Amu, its presidium members Kazi Zafarullah, Dr Abdur Razzaque and Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan, AL advisory committee member Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu, joint general secretary and information and broadcasting minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, publicity and publication secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, information and research secretary Dr Selim Mahmood, office secretary barrister Biplab Barua and education and human resource secretary Shamsun Nahar Chapa.

While presenting the proposals at the dialogue, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said it is proved in the passage of time that this is possible to establish a sustainable and transparent electoral system through EVM use, stopping vote robbery, centre capturing and rigging.

He said now there are 1.5 lakh EVMs at the EC Secretariat due the government's continuous support to the EC and the increased capacity of the Commission.

By using the 1.5 lakh EVMs, voting could be held at 13,000 voting centres out of 43,000 only, the AL general secretary said, adding "So, EVM use must be increased significantly in the next elections."

Other proposals of the AL included ensuring fair, neutral and acceptable role of the EC in conducting elections, performing neutral role by officials and employees of the EC Secretariat and the field level and taking effective steps to keep the elections free from any influence.

The AL also proposed preparing a voter list inserting the photos of the voters, ensuring overall security of voters at polling stations, and hiring presiding and polling officers from public officials instead of people from private agencies.

It said the law enforcing agencies must play neutral and responsible role, and optimum transparency and caution should be ensured in hiring local and foreign observers in the next general elections.

Recalling that the AL has a long history of struggle in establishing democracy in the country, Quader said the ruling party will cooperate best with the EC in holding a free and fair election.