As part of the digital and smart Bangladesh, the Election Commission, in one of its new move, is now planning to receive nomination documents online from interested candidates for the future elections.
Election Commissioner (EC) Brigadier General (Retd.) Md Ahsan Habib Khan on Monday said that the Election Commission (EC) is planning to receive nominations only online for all future elections.
“The matter will be discussed in the next meeting of the commission,” Khan disclosed the new planning of the EC while speaking to reporters at his office at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital’s Agargaon.
By explaining the world’s situation at present, Ahsan Habib said, “We all are informed of that the entire world is moving forward digitally. Bangladesh is also doing the same following and learning the good values of the developed countries, especially use of digital technology. Such move will add values of smart Bangladesh. Now everything from school-college applications are being submitted online. Online submission has various advantages.”
Mentioning about various positive aspects of the online application submissions, the EC member said, “Candidates usually submit nominations at respective EC offices often creating anarchy while trying to show might to their rivals. Sometimes there are allegations and some of the candidates create obstructions for other candidates during the nomination submission. If the nomination is submitted online, there will no occurrence of obstruction.”
Talking about the new proposal, he said, “The ICT department already has give me a presentation on how to implement this idea. It is being considered so that there is no difficulties in nomination submission process.”
He said, in the next commission meeting, we will discuss whether online nomination submission can be implemented or not. If the commission decides, it will be implemented. First take its pilot project. We will see what kind of challenge. We think, beautiful things will be accepted by everyone.
In reply to a query, the EC said after the platform is ready, it will be started as a pilot project in small elections first. At first union parishad, then upazila and city corporation will also be used in elections. If successful in these, arrangements will be made to submit nominations online in the national elections as well.
About the progress of the new project of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), he said, “We have conducted more than 500 elections with EVMs after taking charge. There was no problem. The decision of the commission was – 150 seats will be voted on EVM. But, I’m willing to arrange vote with EVMs in 100 percent centers. We are adamant about EVM voting till now. The decision will be announced after the Planning Commission evaluates the financial issue.