Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs) will not be used in the 12th national election, said Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam on Monday (April 03, 2023). Voting will be held using ballot papers in 300 seats, he told reporters after a meeting of election commissioners at the EC Secretariat. The EC secretary said they took the decision to use ballot paper due to lack of political consensus and necessary resources. On August 23, the EC decided to use EVMs instead of traditional ballot papers in maximum of 150 constituencies in the next general election – likely to be held early next year. Read More: BNP won't come to power whenever election is held: Quader On September 19 last year, the Election Commission approved a Tk 8,711 crore project to procure electronic voting machines (EVMs) for 150 constituencies, out of 300, for the 12th parliamentary election. The decision received strong opposition from BNP and its allies, who did not join talks with the CEC that continued throughout the month of July. However, the ruling Awami League welcomed the decision as it was their demand to use EVMs in all 300 seats in the next election. On January 23, this year the government decided not to proceed with purchasing 2 lakh electronic voting machines (EVMs) citing the global economic recession. Read More: Cabinet nods 2 to 7 years’ imprisonment for election disruptions

The government of Bangladesh has decided not to proceed with purchasing 2 lakh electronic voting machines (EVMs) at the moment, but the procurement project has not been cancelled, Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam said today (January 23, 2023). “The Planning Commission has decided to suspend the processing of the project, considering the government’s financial capacity amid the ongoing global economic crisis,” he said while speaking at a press briefing held at the Election Commission in Dhaka. Read more: Vote using ballot papers if EVM scheme not passed by mid-January: Commissioner Rasheda On September 19 last year, the Election Commission approved a Tk 8,711 crore project to procure electronic voting machines (EVMs) for 150 constituencies, out of 300, for the 12th parliamentary election. On August 23, the EC decided to use electronic voting machines instead of traditional ballot papers in maximum of 150 constituencies in the next general election – likely to be held early next year. The decision received strong opposition from BNP and its allies, who did not join talks with the CEC that continued throughout the month of July. Read more: EVMs: How many seats to be known by Jan However, the ruling Awami League welcomed the decision as it was their demand to use EVMs in all 300 seats in the next election.

The presidential election of Bangladesh will be held within February 23. Election Commission  (EC) Secretary Md.  Jahangir Alam said this while talking to reporters after a meeting held at EC building on Sunday. "The process has already started. We will contact the Parliament Secretariat and fix the date of the Chief Election Commissioner’s meeting with the Speaker," he said. Current president Abdul Hamid cannot be elected president for another term as the country’s constitution allows a maximum of two terms for a person in the post of president. Hamid is the only President who has been serving for two consecutive terms. His second and last tenure will expire on April 24 this year.  On Apr 24, 2013, Abdul Hamid was sworn in as the 20th President of Bangladesh. Read More: EC starts receiving applications for settling objections to draft voter list   After the end of his first tenure, Hamid also took oath as the president on the same date in 2018 for the second term. Lawmakers vote in the presidential election, which is supposed to be held in the House with the CEC acting as the election officer.  

Election Commission Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker has been made the new secretary of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, cancelling Secretary of Industries Ministry Zakia Sultana’s transfer to this ministry. The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday. According to a gazette notification issued on October 27, Secretary of Industries Ministry Zakia Sultana was transferred to the Information Ministry while EC secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker was transferred to the Ministry of Industries. Read more:Major administrative reshuffle in EC, Information Ministry On October 16, former Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mokbul Hossain was sent to retirement in “public interest”, one year before his scheduled retirement. Meanwhile, chief executive officer (secretary) of Public Private Partnership Authority Muhammad Ibrahim has been transferred to the local government and engineering division (LGRD) as secretary, as of today’s notification. Technical and Madrasa Education Board Secretary Md Kamal Hossain was earlier transferred to the LGRD as secretary, as of October 31 notification. Read more:Never met Tarique Rahman, says Info Secretary sent on early retirement The government promoted Kamal Hossain to the rank of senior secretary at Technical and Madrasa Education Board Secretary, canceling the previous transfer. Besides, director general of Islamic Foundation (Additional Secretary) Md Mushfiqur Rahman has been promoted to the rank of secretary at Public Private Partnership Authority as the chief executive officer (secretary), reads a separate notification issued today (Tuesday).