Rajshahi BNP rejects EVM
Rajshahi city unit of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) yesterday handed a a memorandum to visiting Election Commissioner Rafiqul Islam, demanding withdrawal of the decision of using Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in the upcoming national elections.
A group of BNP leaders, lead by party chairperson Khaleda Zia's adviser Mizanur Rahman Minu, went to the regional election office at the city's Chandipur area at around 10:00am and met the election commissioner, who was in the city on occasion of an EVM exhibition.
The BNP leaders also demanded withdrawal of those government officials who played controversial roles in the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) elections held on July 30.
They also complained to him that although nomination seekers of the ruling party are actively campaigning for the upcoming general elections, BNP's aspirants are not bring able to campaign due to harassment by police.
After meeting the election commissioner, BNP leader Mizanur Rahman Minu held a press conference to brief journalists.
“We rejected the use of EVM,” he said, and criticised the EC's initiative for holding the exhibition of EVM, despite most political parties rejecting it.
He said the EVM was used at 12 booths of two centres during RCC polls, three of which broke down during the polls, forcing authorities to continue voting through ballots. He also said EVMs had malfunctioned during RCC elections of 2013.
Briefing reporters, Rafiqul Islam said the EC would select districts through a lottery for using EVM in the polls.
Comments