EVM
AL proposes using EVM in all the 300 constituencies
Bangladesh Awami League on Sunday prposed that the Election Commission uses the electronic voting machines (EVM) in all the 300 constituencies in the next general election.
An AL delegation, led by its general secretary Obaidul Quader, placed a 14-point proposal joining the EC's talks at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city's Agargaon area.
"We want EVMs. We, on behalf of our party, want the EVMs in all 300 constituencies," said Quader.
AL, in its written paper placed before the EC, said there is no alternative to EVM to prevent vote-rigging. Although some voters disliked the use of EVM system at the beginning, it has been proved in the course of time that it is possible to implement a sustainable and transparent election system by stopping vote-rigging, center capture in a scientific manner, it added.
Terming the caretaker government system a 'past and closed chapter,' AL said the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court declared the system unconstitutional and invalid.
According to the Article 111 of the Constitution, no other authority has jurisdiction to take any other decision in this matter. Any controversial comment on this matter is tantamount to violate the Constitution, it said.
The ruling party proposed to bring administration and law enforcement agencies and all other agencies and institutions, which are necessary for conducting the polls, under the supervision of the Election Commission during the election.
It suggested that the election-time government be limited within only routine works. "To rely on sustainable constitutional, legal and regulatory system instead of ad-hoc or interim system," AL said.
Read: EC: EVMs to be customized in presence of candidates in Cumilla polls
AL proposed to keep the partisan officers, who were appointed in the EC, police and civil administration during the BNP regime considering their political identity, out of the election duty to show responsible and impartial behavior of Election Commission Secretariat and its field level officers and employees.
The party said a large number of political leaders and activists were recruited in the EC, police and civil administration who are now either in important posts or waiting district-level responsibilities.
Other proposals include demonstrating the EC's capacity to carry out the responsibilities given in the Constitution and laws by maintaining its independence, neutrality and acceptance; carrying out the responsibilities by the ministries and agencies concerned during the polls; and appointment of responsible officers and employees of the Republic as presiding officers and polling officers instead of the staff of non-governmental organizations or institutions.
The proposals also include to maintain neutral and responsible behavior by the members of law enforcement agencies; not to allow any person, group or organisation that are identified for its affiliated to any party or candidate as election observers; to stop the use of muscle power and illegal money as well as to ensure the scope for all voters including ones of the religiously minority communities to apply their voting rights: and to ensure the overall security of the public before and after the elections.
With the talks with AL, the Election Commission concluded its dialogue with registered political parties seeking opinions over the 12th parliamentary elections.
AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Matia Chowdhury, Kazi Zafarullah, Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Faruk Khan, Hasan Mahmud, Shahbuddin Chuppu, Abdus Sobhan Golap, Barrister Biplab Barua, Salim Mahmud, Shamsunnahar Chapa and Sayeem Khan were the delegation members.
Among 39 registered political parties, 28 political parties took part in the EC's dialogue, but nine didn't join the talks and the remaining two political parties sought time for this.
BNP opposes EVM to sustain vote rigging culture
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said BNP is afraid of EVM as the party wants to sustain the bad culture of vote-rigging and capture the voting centres at night.
He made the remarks after inaugurating the Islami Banking wing of Bangladesh Commerce Bank at a city hotel on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited’s Chairman Rashid Ahmed presided over the programme while its Managing Director and CEO Tajul Islam, among others, spoke.
Hasan said that none can capture state power with muscle power. Those who do politics for the people never think to go to power by force.
It was BNP’s founder Ziaur Rahman who had captured the state power by force, he said.
Also Read: Abandon those who want to make Bangladesh a communal country: Hasan Mahmud
In contrast, he said, the Awami League has come to power with the mandate of the people.
“We won in the last three national elections and formed the government,” he added.
He said elections are being held across the globe through EVM including India, the United States, Germany, France, Australia even Malaysia.
If another party other than Awami League had proposed EVM, “I think BNP would have liked it.”
AL keen on EVM use to manipulate polls in new way: BNP
BNP senior leader Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Wednesday said Awami League (AL) is keen on the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next general election to implement its new manipulation plan.
“We believed them (AL) once earlier and joined the election (under them). But they completed the day’s voting at night,” he said.
Read:AL in favour of using EVMs in national election: Quader
The BNP leader said the ruling party is now seeking the use of EVMs in the polls so that they need not steal votes at night again. “They’ll do it this time by pressing the EVM buttons sitting in the polling stations.”
Talking to reporters on the grave premises of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman in the capital, Tuku said their party will no longer participate in mockery in the name of election.
Earlier, he along with the leaders of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal placed a wreath at Zia’s grave, marking the formation of an eight-member partial committee of the BNP’s youth wing.
Tuku, a BNP standing committee member, said their party will not go to the polls until a neutral government is established.
As a democratic party, he said BNP wants the election to be held in a democratic atmosphere.
The BNP leader recalled that then prime minister Khaleda Zia accepted defeat after she had resigned by forming a caretaker government in 1996. “That’s called democracy.”
He urged the Awami League government to arrange the next election under a non-party neutral administration if it has that courage like Khaleda Zia.
“If we lose in such an election, we will accept it. We want to see fair play,” the BNP leader said.
Sought his comment on the Election Commission’s (EC’s) proposal on holding the national election in four days, Tuku said it will not be acceptable in Bangladesh.
“Since the birth of Bangladesh, the election has been held in one day. I don't know whether or not the (Chief Election Commissioner) is a hybrid one. I don't know why he wants to do it in four days,” Tuku said.
Read: Despite pros and cons, EVMs better than ballots: CEC
If the election is held in four days, he said the election results will be kept at the offices of the deputy commissioners (DCs) whom people do not trust. “So, it won’t happen in Bangladesh.”
As his attention was drawn to AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s remark that BNP will finally join polls, Tuku said, “I have doubts whether the people of Bangladesh value Obaidul Quader's words…there’s no reason for us to join the election as per Obaidul Quader’s expectation. They don't even have a good record to encourage us to go to polls under them.”
JaPa voices against EVM use in meeting with EC
The Jatiya Party (JPA), the main opposition party in the Jatiya Sangsad, does not want the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in parliamentary elections.
The party expressed their stand in their statement on Sunday taking part in a meeting of the Election Commission (EC) on EVM verification.
After the meeting, Japa secretary general Mujibul Haque Chunnu told reporters that a meeting of their presidium members on Sunday morning had decided that they will support the existing system of electoral process and they see no need to use EVM.
Chunnu said, "We have also presented this opinion to the EC in the meeting."
Also read: EC to sit with political parties in three phases regarding EVM
Asked whether he would boycott the polls if EVMs were used despite their views, he said "We will take the decision then."
The Election Commission has called 39 political parties for continuous discussions to verify the EVM. On Sunday, the EC invited 13 parties.
The remaining 26 parties will join in two phases on June 21 and June 28 for EVM verification.
In the first phase, the 13 political parties that were invited to the dialogue with the EC today are Jatiya Party (Ershad), the main opposition in the National Parliament, Jatiya Party-JP, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Bangladesh National Awami Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Jaker Party, Bangladesh Muslim League, Gano Forum, Gano Front, Bangladeshh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasad, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-Basad, Bangladesh National Awami Party-Bangladesh NAP, Biplabi Workers Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Sanskritik Muktijote.
In the second phase set for June 21, the invited political parties are Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal JSD, Bangladesh Khilafat Movement, National People's Party-NPP, Jamiyat-e-Ulamaye Islam, Bangladesh, Islamic Front Bangladesh, Bangladesh Kalyan Party, Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Islamic Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Islamic Front, Khilafat Majlis and Bangladesh Muslim League-BML.
Also read: Election using EVMs won’t be acceptable: Jatiya Party
In the last phase, the 13 parties invited on June 28 are ruling Bangladesh Awami League, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Communist Party of Bangladesh-ML, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Liberal Democratic Party-LDP, Ganatantri Party, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasad, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-Basad, Bangladesh National Awami Party-Bangladesh NAP, Biplabi Workers Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Sanskritik Muktijote.
Opinions about EVMs have already been taken in meetings with the best technologists in the country. They said after seeing the EVM, this machine is reliable.
The Election Commission wants to use EVM on a large scale in the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections. However, the company has decided to take everyone's opinion before that.
The EC currently has 1 lakh 54 thousand EVMs, with which voting can be done in maximum 100 seats while three hundred more machines are needed to use this voting machine in 300 seats.
EC to sit with political parties in three phases regarding EVM
The Election Commission (EC) will sit with 39 registered political parties for verification of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and exchange of views on the same in three phases from June 19.
EC Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath informed the reporters regarding the matter on Tuesday.
He said 13 parties including Jatiya Party and another 13 parties including BNP will be called on June 19 and June 21 respectively while 13 parties including Awami League will be invited on June 26.
EC informed that each party will be able to send five members of their representative or technical team while the parties will receive invitation letters in a few days.
The EC will decide on the use of EVM in the forthcoming 12th National Assembly elections on the basis of everyone's opinion while the commission has already taken the opinion of the best technologists in the country.
Also Read: Next Election Commission: 322 names proposed to search committee published
At present, the EC has 1 lakh 54 thousand voting machines, with which it is possible to hold vote in about 100 seats.
In 2011, the Election Commission headed by ATM Shamsul Huda introduced EVM voting for the first time. At that time they made a machine from BUET for Tk12000. But that machine failed in the 2015 Rajshahi City Corporation elections. As a result, the Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed Commission decided to make a new and better EVM by eliminating all the machines taken from BUET.
KM Nurul Huda's commission made more advanced machines worth Tk 2 lakh from Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory.
The present commission headed by Kazi Habibul Awal also wants to use EVM based on everyone's opinion.
Election using EVMs won’t be acceptable: Jatiya Party
Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Saturday said fair voting using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will not be possible.
“EVM is good, but those who will operate it are not neutral. So, the election using the EVMs will not be acceptable,” he said.
Chunnu also said Jatiya Party will decide in its party forum whether it will go to the polls or not if the Election Commission decides to use the EVMs in the next general election.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the conference of Jatiya Party’s 33-No ward in the city’s Mohammadpur area.
Also read: EC: EVMs to be customized in presence of candidates in Cumilla polls
The Jatiya Party leader voiced concern as a quarter suddenly lodged complaints with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against 116 alems (Islamic scholars).
“It’s important to find out why this quarter came up with such allegation. It’s also necessary to make an inquiry about their incomes, expenditures and wealth,” he said.
Stating that 400,000 crores have been siphoned off abroad from Bangladesh from 2009 to 2016, Chunnu wanted to know why it is not being investigated.
He renewed their party’s demand for publishing a list of money launderers and urged the government to take legal action against them.
The Jatiya Party secretary general also alleged that the country is spending three times higher than the actual costs in the name of mega projects. “Looting is taking place in the name of development.”
Also read: EVMs in national election won't be logical: GM Quader
He also said there is no difference between Awami League and BNP in terms of corruption and misrule. “So, the people of the country no longer want to see Awami League and BNP in power. They now want to see the government of Jatiya Party.”
EC: EVMs to be customized in presence of candidates in Cumilla polls
The Election Commission will customize electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Cumilla City Corporation election in presence of candidates or their representatives.
The commission sought applications from the candidates to witness the customization process of EVMs to be held in Dhaka ahead of the city election slated for June 15 next.
According to a notification issued by election returning officer Md Shahedunnabi Chowdhury on Tuesday, an interested contender can send one or two technology experts as representatives to see the customization process.
READ: Poll panel still lacks capacity to use EVMs in all 300 seats, says CEC
The candidates for the mayor, councilors and reserved seats in the city polls will have to apply within Thursday.
EVMs in national election won't be logical: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader has said the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the next parliamentary election will not be logical.
"Voting by EVMs will be illogical in a country where symbols are used next to the candidates' names as many voters can't read," he said.
GM Quader was addressing a meeting of the Jatiya Party Dhaka North unit at the party chairman's Banani office auditorium.
The JP chief said no candidate can challenge the results of the election that is held using EVMs for lack of ballot papers. "The results that the voting machines give will be announced. It is like the government wants to send the people of the country to the Mars, but a living environment has not been created there."
Also Read: Deaths on roads on the rise for lack of effective steps: GM Quader
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in Parliament, said: "The way the country is being run will end the dream for democracy."
He urged the leaders and activists of the JP to get ready to carry out a struggle for their survival.
The JP leader said there is no democracy in the country as an one-party dictatorship has been introduced. "Autocracy has been given legitimacy by amending the constitution. The country has been under a constitutional dictatorship since 1991."
AL wants EVM in next polls in new plot to rig votes: BNP
BNP senior leader Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Wednesday alleged that the ruling Awami League wants the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to be used in all 300 seats in the next national election as part of its fresh plot to rig vote digitally instead of stuffing ballots.
He was talking to journalists after placing a wreath at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave together with the leaders of the party’s newly made Chandpur district unit committee.
Also read:AL’s assurance of fair polls a trap for BNP: Rizvi
“The daytime voting was held at night in the last election. They now want the use of EVM so that the ballots need not be stuffed at night,” he said.
Tuku, a BNP standing committee member, also said by using the EVMs the ruling party will set a programme on their own and take 80% of votes showing 90% of votes cast. “It’s that kind of plot what the country’s people and we understand.”
The BNP leader said no election will be fair in Bangladesh unless it is held under a completely neutral government.
He said neither BNP nor the other opposition parties would join the next polls if held under the current Awami League government.
Tuku said political parties in Bangladesh established democracy through movements in the past. “We’ll again wage a movement for the restoration of that democracy, and we’ll realise our demands through the movement."
Replying to a question, he said Awami League also knows it very well that the election will not be accepted internationally if BNP boycotts it.
Tuku also slammed Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for advising BNP to participate in the election for the sake of its existence, saying there is a question about the existence of Awami League, not BNP.
Also read:Chhatra League attack on LDP leader Redwan ‘premeditated’: BNP
“We have a party and most people are with us. “They’ve no party and only police and hooligans are with them…We won’t join the election under them this time,” he said.
Asked whether their party will finally take part in talks with the government and join the election under it as they did in 2018, Tuku said Awami League had broken all trusts of people and usurped power defeating people. “This time the election will be held only when people turn victorious and we’ll go to that polls.”
Poll panel still lacks capacity to use EVMs in all 300 seats, says CEC
The Election Commission still lacks the capacity to hold the entire national election through electronic voting machines (EVMs), Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said on Tuesday.
“We still don’t have the capacity to hold elections to all the 300 parliamentary constituencies through EVMs. We’ve yet to take any decision over (the use of EVMs in) the constituencies,” he said.
The CEC was speaking to reporters after the inauguration of training of trainers (TOT) scheme at the Election Training Institute on the occasion of the Voter List Updation Programme 2022.
Also read: CEC vows to win public trust about the body
"The EC has yet to take any decision on using ballot papers or EVMs in the next general election. We have also not yet taken a call on the partial use of EVMs in the polls. It is under review.
"We have already held many meetings with the stakeholders and will meet them in the future also. But the decision will be ours," he said.
Earlier in the training workshop, the CEC directed the officials to update the voter list with accuracy and authenticity. "It is not possible to form a representative government without having an accurate voter list."
Also read: EC to hold polls with cooperation from all parties: CEC
Four election commissioners were present at the inaugural function presided over by the EC secretary.