EVM use in 150 seats: AL upbeat, BNP rejects decision

Using EVM is trouble-free. Those who are afraid of EVM, do they want free and fair elections at all?

Obaidul Quader

The Election Commission has decided to use EVMs in up to 150 parliamentary seats in the next general elections.

Speaking to journalists, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said his party welcomed the decision.

"We wanted EVM in 300 constituencies but the EC agreed to use EVM in half of all constituencies… and we welcome the decision," Quader said.

Referring to a dialogue with the EC, he said AL had suggested the EC for using the EVM in 2018 as a modern technology because his party never wants recurrence of vote rigging and forgery in the elections.

This decision of the EC has proved that it has become an associate body of the ruling party.

Mirza Fakhrul

Terming the EVM use trouble-free, he said those who are afraid of EVM, "do they want free and fair elections at all?"

Meanwhile, BNP turned down the EC's decision, saying the move was taken as per the government's desire to help it retain power.

Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir 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.

Fakhrul also said this decision of the EC has proved that it has become an associate body of the ruling party. "Because, they (AL) sought the use of EVMs in 300 seats, but the EC fixed it in 150 through a compromise."