“After a general meeting, the Election Commission decided that the voting machines will be used in any six of the seats in city corporation areas. Voting in all the centres of those seats will be held with EVMs. The constituencies will be finalised through a lottery on November 28 in front of you (journalists),” he said.
The secretary made the announcement while speaking at a press conference after the 40th Commission Meeting at Nirbachan Bhaban.
The meeting was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda with other commissioners in presence.
Responding to a question on why EVMs are being used despite opposition from 35 political parties and partners, the secretary said, “It’s the decision of the Commission. At this digital age, Bangladesh has moved forward. People are also now better educated. We’ve successes in using EVMs in city corporation elections.”
The EC took the decision considering all the matters and there is no way to move back from it, he said.
Mentioning that Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder had opposed the EVM use, a journalist wanted to know about his role in today’s meeting.
In reply, the EC secretary said he attended the meeting but did not oppose it. “So, it can be assumed that he agreed with us,” he further said.
Responding to another query on why only six constituencies have been picked for the EVM use despite having so much preparations, budget, and training, the EC secretary said, “Six seats are not very few. If there are 150 centres in each constituency on average, there will be almost 900 centres under EVM.”
He also mentioned that there will be no alternative to ballot voting in those EVM centres.
Replying to a query on BNP’s claim that the EC secretary attended secret meetings at Dhaka Officers Club and Chittagong Circuit House, he said, “It’s totally a false propaganda. I strongly condemn it.”
In reply to another question whether the Commission will take actions against this propaganda, he said, “I’ll placed it in tomorrow’s (Sunday’s) Election Commission meeting, and the Commission will take the decision.”