EVM reliable, no complaints: CEC
The EC has the capacity to use EVMs in 50-80 constituencies in the upcoming national polls
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Saturday said the elections conducted with electronic voting machines (EVM) are reliable so far and no complaint has yet been received regarding EVMs.
"The Election Commission (EC) has always been in favour of the EVM system while conducting elections," he said while addressing the opening ceremony of a daylong workshop on "Use of modern technology in electoral system: challenges and ways forward" at a hotel in Cox's Bazar as the chief guest.
Chattogram Regional Election Office organised the workshop under the "Capacity Building and Strengthening Project" of the EC Secretariat.
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Main work of the EC is allowing voters to exercise their right to vote, Habibul Awal said, adding, "It is not the duty for the commission to see the voters who have voted for which party. If the voters are not able to vote, if they're deterred, if their rights are undermined at the polling station- then we, along with all those concerned, will have to take responsibility for the failure."
The CEC said that the Election Commision has taken a stance in favor of EVMs after being widely trusted. So far, no complaint has been made over the elections using the EVM system, he added.
The EC has the capacity to use EVMs in 50 to 80 constituencies in the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls, he continued.
"We hope that if all political parties participate, the polls will be fair, impartial and acceptable," he said.
Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Md Ahsan Habib Khan addressed the function as the special guest with Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Aminur Rahman in the chair.
Additional Secretary of Election Commission Secretariat Ashok Kumar Debnath, Project Director Brigadier General Abul Hasnat Mohammad Sayem, Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Anwar Hossain, Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar Muhammad Shaheen Imran, Superintendent of Police Mahfuzul Islam, among others, were present.
Election Commission officials, senior administration officials, police, representatives of civil society, new voters, public representatives and freedom fighters participated in the workshop.
