The Election Commission (EC) will not use electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the upcoming election of two Dhaka city corporations if nobody wants it, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said on Wednesday.
The EC boss made the comment at the inaugural ceremony of the two-day training for returning and assistant returning officers assigned for Dhaka North and South City Corporations polls held at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.
“Using EVM is a challenge. There’s no inconvenience in operating EVMs. The people can exercise their franchise successfully using this,” the CEC said. “We have been continuing the use of EVMs in the polls as we got positive results from it,” Huda said.
DNCC and DSCC polls are scheduled to be held on January 30.
The CEC has instructed election officials to perform their duties neutrally in the upcoming two city polls of Dhaka.
“Both Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) elections are very important for the Election Commission (EC). That’s why you (election officials) must perform your responsibilities fairly,” he said.
“Dhaka city polls will be competitive,” he said, adding the election officials should perform duties without taking sides reaching above the fear or threat posed to them by any quarter.
Election officials must ensure suitable and peaceful atmosphere at the polling stations so that voters can exercise their franchise.
On December 22, the EC announced polls schedule of DNCC and DSCC.
Election Commissioners – Mahbub Talukdar, Md Rafiqul Islam, Begum Kabita Khanam, Brigadier General (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury and EC Secretary Md Alamgir- among others, were present.
