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EVMs can make polls ‘more transparent than ballots do’

Speakers at the Editors’ Guild event


Published : 17 Sep 2022 10:04 PM

Analysts believe that electronic voting machines (EVMs) can make elections more transparent than conventional paper ballots in Bangladesh.

 At a programme in Dhaka on Saturday, they said those who are raising questions about EVM, they can check the machine.

It is possible to take 100 percent fraud-free voting using this modern machine. But there is a lack of confidence among the people about EVMs. So the Election Commission should work to create confidence among the people in this regard, they said.

The Editors’ Guild organised the programme titled “Participatory election and EVM” at the Dhaka Gallery in Banani. Editors’ Guild President Mozammel Babu moderated the roundtable.

They said using the EVM machine, free, fair and credible elections are possible in Bangladesh. For that, the Election Commission, government and political parties must be sincere in this regard. Awareness should be raised among the voters.

Physicist Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal said he saw the machine. “I asked (authority) to open various parts of the EVM. I found it fine. Everything including the cable is specially customized. No other parts or devices from outside can be added to it. Voters need to know these things,” he said, recommending discussion of the technical issues of EVM with the technical experts.

Former election commissioner Brigadier general (Retd) Shahadat Hossain, political analyst Prof Dr Harun or Rashid, former pro-vice-chancellor of BUET Prof Dr Abdul Jabbar Khan, human rights activist Khushi Kabir, central coordinator of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Dilip Kumar Sarkar, election observer Monira Khan, and Presidium Member of the Editors’ Guild Naimul Islam Khan also spoke at the programme. 

Prof Abdul Jabbar Khan said the biggest advantage of EVM is that everything is locked. “But enough training is not being given on this machine. It should be taken to the people at the field level. Awareness of common people about EVM should be increased,” he said.

 Former Election Commissioner Sakhawat Hossain, however, said people can face technical problems in giving fingerprints even in airports.

“In EVM this may be a problem for many, and that’s why it may take time. This is a big hindrance for voters. In India too, the issue of VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trailing) has reached the Supreme Court. Now if the voters do not have confidence, no matter how good the election is in EVM, it will be questioned.”

Former election commissioner Shahadat Hossain said that the current machines are much better than the previous EVMs.

“It has been brought to stop all kinds of irregularities. If anyone has doubts, come and see for yourself and try. 100% transparent election is possible in EVM,” he said.