ACC to probe why experts found EVMs suitable

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will investigate why experts, including Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, found the electronic voting machines (EVMs) suitable for use, despite allegations of their substandard quality.

The commission's Director General Akhtar Hossain disclosed this information during a press conference at the ACC headquarters yesterday.

He said a drive was conducted on Sunday following allegations against the Election Commission of procuring substandard EVMs using public funds.

During the operation, the ACC team reviewed relevant records and discovered that the purchased EVMs are stored at the EC headquarters, 10 regional offices, and the Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF).

However, EC officials could not account for the whereabouts of 1,599 machines.

Speaking to journalists after the operation at the EC office on Sunday, ACC Assistant Director Nur Alam Siddiqui said, "In 2018, the EC procured 150,000 EVMs, of which 100,500 were found to be non-functional."

The team also observed that the stored EVMs were neglected and poorly maintained, with many appearing to be non-operational.

Out of the 618 machines stored at the EC headquarters, a random test of a few machines revealed mechanical defects, confirming that the machines were of substandard quality.

Akhtar Hossain said experts present during the ACC operation opined that the EVMs were not of acceptable quality.

The commission has deemed it necessary to investigate on what basis renowned experts like Zafar Iqbal had previously found these machines to be suitable, he added.