Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said that the election commission will examine the reasons behind the slow voting through EVM during the Rangpur City Corporation Election (RCC). “Some problems have been reported in the Rangpur City Corporation election. We’ve got complaints of slow vote casting through EVMs (electronic voting machines),” the CEC told the reporters after a post-election meeting of Rangpur City Corporation at the Election Commission Bhaban. “EC does not want to see such problem in future. So discussions are ongoing with all parties,” he said. Read more: Election violence under present EC drops to zero: CEC Although there had been less fingerprint problem in RCC election, the vote casting was slow due to various reasons, said the CEC.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday said election violence under the present Election Commission (EC) has dropped to zero. “The Election Commission wants to continue it,” he said while talking to reporters at the Election Commission Bhaban. Regarding Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) election, the CEC said the voting is underway at a slow pace for using electronic voting machines (EVMs). About 56 percent voters have cast their votes till 4 pm, he added. The voting may continue till 7-8 pm due the long queues at the polling centres, he added. The voting in the election was scheduled to end at 4:30pm. Read more: Rangpur City Corporation: Voting begins amid enthusiasm The EC will look into whether there is any other reason behind the delay in voting , he added. “We have got some allegations of slow voting due to electronic voting machines (EVMs) but all the voters at the centers will be allowed to exercise their franchise till night,” he said. The Election Commission is monitoring the election through CC cameras from a control room. Election Commissioners Brig. General (retd) Ahsan Habib Khan, Md Alamgir, Anisur Rahman, Squadron leader Shahrier Alam are present at the control room and observing the whole situation as already 1,807 CC cameras have been installed at the polling booths. Read more: Official electioneering period ends tonight, before Rangpur votes for mayor Voting in Rangpur City Corporation began on Tuesday morning using electronic voting machines (EVMs) at 229 centres. Nine candidates are vying for the mayoral post while 183 people are contesting for councillor posts under 33 wards. Sixty-eight candidates are contesting the polls for 11 reserved seats, said Returning Officer Abdul Baten. The mayoral candidates are: Amiruzzaman from Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Abu Raihan from Bangladesh Congress, Touhidur Rahman Mandal from Khelafat Majlish, Mostafizur Rahman from Jatiya Party, Shafier Rahman from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia from Awami League, Khorshed Alam from Zaker Party, Mehedi Hasan and Latifur Rahman as independent candidates. Campaigning in the Rangpur City Corporation election ended on Sunday midnight amid much enthusiasm. A total of 229 presiding officers, 1,349 assistant presiding officers and 2,698 polling officers are performing their duties to maintain order in the voting centres. The first Rangpur City Corporation election was held on December 21, 2017. The tenure of the current mayor will expire on February 18, 2023.

The election to Rangpur City Corporation will be held on December 27. The election schedule was finalised at a meeting of the Election Commission (EC) with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair at the Election Commission Secretariat on Thursday. Read more:Govt to support Election Commission in holding fair election: Law Minister EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam announced the schedule after the meeting. He said the Commission has also decided to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) and CCTV cameras  in the election.  The balloting will start at 8.30 am and continue till 4.30 pm without any break. The election to the city corporation was held on December 21, 2017. The first meeting was held on February 19, 2017. The tenure will end after five years of the first meeting.The meeting also held an elaborate discussion on different local government elections and by-elections in vacant posts. Read more:EC directed to fix new date for Noakhali Zila Parishad election It also decided to hold elections to five municipalities and a number of union parishads on December 29. The five municipalities are—Bagha, Rajshahi, Birol, Dinajpur, Boda, Panchagarh, Alfadanga, Faridpur and Banpara, Natore.

Elections at 57 Zila Parishads of Bangladesh began on Monday (October 17, 2022) morning by using electronic voting machines (EVMs). The voting began at 9:00 am and will continue until 2:00 pm without any break under the supervision of the deputy commissioners who are acting as returning officers, according to the Election Commission. Voting in the Zila Parishads will be held at 925 booths in 462 centres across the country while 60,866 voters will cast their vote. Read:EC doing its job, not under any pressure: CEC Elected representatives of other local government bodies such as Union Parishads, municipalities and Upazila Parishads are eligible to vote in the election. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said on Sunday that CCTV cameras will be used in every centre in the Zila Parishad elections just like the recently held Gaibandha-5 elections. The EC suspended the election to the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat for “widespread malpractices” recorded in the CCTV cameras. The Election Commission says it will monitor the 57 Zila Parishads polls of Bangladesh through CCTV cameras from a monitoring cell set up in its headquarters in Dhaka. Read: Gaibandha-5 polls: Not a reckless decision, says CEC

The Election Commission (EC) today 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 project details will soon be sent to the Planning Commission for approval, Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said in a press briefing. Earlier, the project was approved in a meeting of the commission. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, who recently tested positive for Covid-19, joined the meeting virtually. Read: Jatiya Party to shun alliances at next election: GM Quader EC Alamgir said, “The commission earlier decided to use EVMs in 150 constituencies, in the next general election, but 1.5 lakh machines we currently have can be used in highest 70 to 80 constituencies.” So, the project was approved to procure and maintain new EVMs, he said. The Election Commission unveiled roadmap for next the general election at a function held at the auditorium of the Nirbachan Bhaban on Wednesday. Read: Next national election by Jan 29, 2024; EVMs to be used in 150 constituencies On August 23, the EC decided to use electronic voting machines instead of traditional ballot papers in maximum 150 constituencies in the next general election – likely to be held late next year. The decision received strong opposition from BNP and its allies, who didn’t join the 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. Read AL in favour of using EVMs in national election: Quader Earlier, the commission had invited 39 political parties registered with it for talks on the use of electronic voting machines; 28 political parties responded to the commission’s invitations while 11 parties, including BNP, rejected it.

The next general election in Bangladesh will be held by January 29, 2024 with the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in 150 constituencies out of 300, according to a roadmap published by the Election Commission. “Seventeen out of 29 parties who participated in the recent dialogue gave positive opinion on the use of EVMs while 12 rejected use of EVM. The Election Commission thinks that it will not be rational to use EVMs as most of the political parties want. Use of EVMs in 150 constituencies will be rational for balancing the opinions of all parties,” Election Commissioner Md Ahsan Habib, gave the keynote speech as chief guest in the absence of the CEC. Read:AL hails EC decision to use EVMs in 150 JS seats in next polls EC also said the election has to be held by January 24, 2024 as per the constitution. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal could not attend the event due to illness, but four other Election Commissioners along with senior EC officials were present. The Election Commission (EC) published the roadmap for the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections. Read: EVMs to be used in maximum 150 constituencies in next national polls: EC This was revealed at a function held at the auditorium of the Election Commission building on Wednesday. The action plan mentions the challenges to holding fair elections, what the EC should do to deal with them, review the activities of the parties, increasing the use of election technology etc. The EC said that no one has been able to provide proof of EVM rigging in all the elections that have taken place so far. Read BNP turns down EC’s move to use EVMs up to 150 seats Setting parliamentary constituency boundaries The roadmap says that a new policy will be made in January 2023 to redefine the boundaries of the parliamentary seats. On the basis of which the Geographical Information System will be discussed with the relevant institutions and experts, and the draft of the constituencies will be published in March 2023. The revised delimitation of 300 constituencies will be gazetted in June after objections to the draft were settled in May. Voter list The action plan informs that updates are currently in progress. The updated list will be released on March 2, 2023. With the announcement of the parliamentary election schedule, the voter list of 300 constituencies will be published. Read Election to 61 district councils (Zila Parishads) on October 17 Polling stations EC plans to set up 42,000 polling stations. In this case, the work will be undertaken in June 2023. The draft will be published in July, and the objections will be settled on the draft in August. After that, Election Commission will publish the gazette of the polling station 25 days before the polling. Inspection of parties The process of reviewing the activities of the registered parties will begin this September. In this case, after reviewing all the information, the Election Commission will decide which party's registration will be maintained in May 2023. The final list of registered parties will be published in June of the same year. Before this, registration of new parties will be announced in May. Read EVMs to be used in maximum 150 constituencies in next national polls: EC

BNP on Wednesday turned down the Election Commission’s (EC’s) decision to use the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in up to 150 seats in the next general election, saying the move was taken as per the government’s desire to help it retain power. Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also renewed their demand that the next polls must be held through traditional ballots under a non-partisan government to be conducted by a fresh EC. “We don’t have any interest in the current Election Commission. We also don't care what they say and do. The main thing is that if there is no change in the government during the polls-time, no Election Commission can hold a credible election,” Fakhrul said. Fakhrul also said this decision of the EC has proved that it has become an associate body of the ruling party. “Because, they (AL) sought the use of EVMs in 300 seats, but the EC fixed it in 150 ones through a compromise. In the dialogues with the EC, he said most of the political parties, even the Jatiya Party, told the Commission that they do not want the EVMs to be used as people’s verdict will not be reflected through the machines. “Despite opposition from political parties, the current ‘illegal’ Election Commission has taken the decision to use the EVM only to fulfill the government’s desire and to give their (govts’) target of forming the government again a final shape. People will never accept it and neither will we. We completely turn down it.” He said their party’s position is clear that no election can be held in Bangladesh without a polls-time neutral caretaker government. “The current government must quit immediately for not only their economic failure, but also for political failures of creating a one-party ruling system, and then hand over power to a neutral government dissolving parliament.” Read: EVMs to be used in maximum 150 constituencies in next national polls: EC Later, he said a new Election Commission will have to be formed to arrange a credible, acceptable and inclusive election. “The voting in that election will be done completely through ballots.” Earlier on Tuesday, the EC decided to use the EVMs instead of traditional ballot papers in the maximum 150 constituencies out of 300 ones in the next general election likely to be held late next year. The decision came from a meeting of the election agency on Tuesday with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area. BNP’s press conference was arranged after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies on the occasion of the party’s 441st founding anniversary on September 1. Fakhrul also announced a two-day programme, including a rally and discussion, to celebrate the founding anniversary. At the meeting, the leaders of the party and its associate bodies were instructed to make all programmes, including a colourful rally at Nayapaltan, on September 1, a success. On September 1, 1978, Ziaur Rahman formed BNP with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. BNP ruled the country for several terms. Fakhrul said BNP was actually born at a historical moment for the need of history. “When all the other political parties of Bangladesh failed to deliver and unite the country’s people, BNP was founded by martyred President Ziaur Rahman with a new light of hope for people. “ Stating that BNP has been staying in politics for 44 years through many ups and downs, he said many plots were hatched to destroy BNP since the assassination of Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1981, Fakhrul said the party has risen like the phoenix under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia. “She brought this party to power thrice under her competent leadership. “It’s unfortunate that our leader has now been kept under house arrest.” Accusing the government of destroying democracy and snatching people’s rights, he said people want BNP to restore democracy and their rights through a movement.

The election to 61 district councils (Zila Parishads) will be held October 17 with the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs). The Election Commission on Tuesday announced the polls schedules for 61 local bodies out of the country’s 64 district councils(excluding three district councils of Chittagong Hill Tract area) after a meeting held at the Nirbachan Bhaban with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair. As per the schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination paper sis September 15, while the date for scrutinizing nomination papers is September 18 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is September 25, said EC’s additional secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath at a briefing after the meeting. Read:EVMs to be used in maximum 150 constituencies in next national polls: EC The polls will be held from 9am to 2pm without any recess. Deputy Commissioners will act as the election returning officers in the respective districts. Elected representatives of other local bodies like Union Parishads, municipalities and Upazila Parishads are voters in the district council election.

The Election Commission (EC) has decided to use electronic voting machines instead of traditional ballot papers in the maximum 150 constituencies out of 300 ones in the next general election likely to be held late next year. The decision came from a meeting of the election agency on Tuesday with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area. “The EC has taken decision that the polls will be held through EVMs in the maximum 150 constituencies in the next national election. But it could also be in a single constituency,” EC’s additional secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath told reporters after the meeting. Read: Stern action if anyone creates anarchy: Tajul warns He said the commission would require purchasing more EVMs to use the machines in the 150 constituencies. So, the EVMs to will be used in the maximum 150 constituencies subjected to procurement of the machines, he added. In reply to a question, the EC official said the commission took the decision taking the recommendations, placed by the political parties in the talks with EC in June last, in cognizance and analyzing all aspects. He said now the EC has 150,000 EVMs enough for sue in 70-75 constituencies. The meeting also discussed the procurement of more EVMs, he said replying to another question. Read: Next election will be held on time: Quader “If the commission takes the decision for buying more EVMs, we’ll go for procuring the machines,” said the EC official. In the dialogues with the EC, almost half the participating political parties supported the use of EVMs in the national election, while others opposed it. But BNP and its allies, who didn’t join the talks, are opposing the use of EVMs in the parliamentary elections.

BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Saturday threatened that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be dumped in the Bay of Bengal before the next general election. “Even animals and birds will get embarrassed to hear that a fair election is possible under the current government and the Election Commission,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said the government wants to set an example that a fair election can be held using EVMs under it through the Narayanganj city polls. “People don’t believe it at all. The EVMs will be thrown into the Bay of Bengal before the next election.” Zia Nagorik Forum arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking its 27th founding anniversary. Read: People looking for a change in govt: Fakhrul Gayeshwar, a BNP standing committee member, said their party has been on a movement to ensure people’s voting rights. “We want people to go to polling stations and cast their votes freely and willingly at day time.” He said there is an honour in accepting a loss in a fair and credible election. “But there’s no honour in winning polls by stealing votes. Those who’re now in parliament are openly called by people as vote thieves. What could be a greater humiliation than this?” The BNP leader urged the government to take a step towards holding a credible election to stay in peace in the days to come. "Arrange an election under a neutral government by resigning voluntarily and dissolving parliament. If you do it, then you may get a little bit of sympathy from people.” Read: Current constitution “contrary” to democratic practice: GM Quader Gayeshwar alleged that the government has been using the Coronavirus as a political shield getting scared of the mass wave created in favour of BNP. "The government has cooled down the situation by imposing coronavirus restrictions...even in an extreme cold, people die. It’s also a matter of consideration whether the government collapses in a very cool situation,” he said.