EC’s proposal to purchase 200,000 EVMs rejected
24 January 2023
Staff Reporter :
The government has decided to put on hold the plan to purchase two lakh EVMs for the next national polls.
The project has been dropped due to the ongoing global economic recession, Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md Jahangir Alam told the reporters on Monday at EC headquarters in Agargaon in the capital.
Last Sunday the ministry of planning has formally informed by a letter to EC that it is impossible for them to support required money what EC wanted.
According to EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam, the EVM project is unattainable due to the existent financial crisis of the commission.
He said, "The commission can afford to arrange electronic voting for only 50 to 70 seats with the funds available in hand."
Earlier on 19 September last year, the Election Commission (EC) 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 23 August, 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 the 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 (AL) welcomed the decision as it was their demand to use EVMs in all 300 seats in the next election.
