“EMV is a modern voting system. We support EVMs for the sake of free and fair election. EVMs are necessary to remove people’s negative impression about election,” he said while addressing a press conference at the local Circuit House.

Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said the BNP candidate won the polls in the two centres in the Sylhet City Corporation election where EVMs were used. “They’ll accept it if they win and they’ll raise allegations if they lose it.”

Mentioning that the train of election will not wait for anyone, he said

Awami League will have nothing to do if BNP does not participate in the election.

On Thursday, the Election Commission at a meeting decided to send a proposal to the government for amending the electoral laws to pave the way for the use of EVMs in general elections.

Election Commissioner Mahabub Talukder in the five-member commission's meeting at the capital’s Nirabachan Bhaban opposed the use of EVMs in the next national election.

At one stage, he left the meeting placing a ‘note of dissent’.

About Mahabub Talukder’s objection to the use of EVMs, Quader said only an election commissioner’s opposition will not be an obstacle. “The Election Commission is comprised of five commissioners. One of them might put forward a note of dissent. There might be difference. This is the beauty of democracy. It proves that there’s democracy in the EC,” he said.

AL’s joint general secretaries Mahabub-ul-Alam Hanif and Jahangir Kabir Nanak were also present at the press conference.