Project to buy 2 lakh EVMs approved

Election Commission (EC) has finalised the project to buy 2,00,000 EVMs worth Tk 8,711 crore.

The EC, an independent constitutional body, gave the approval to the project during a meeting held at its Nirbachan Bhaban in the Agargaon area of Dhaka on Monday.

The project proposal will be sent to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) by today (Monday) for its final approval.

Apart from this, the expenditures for proper storage of the electronic device and training for the respective manpower have been included in the project proposal.

Earlier, the EC decided to use electronic devices in 150 parliamentary seats out of the total 300 in the next general elections to be held either at the end of 2023 or early 2024.

The constitutional body reached the decision during a meeting held at its Agargaon office on August 23.

From July 17 to 31, the EC held talks with the country’s 39 registered political parties except nine including BNP to pave the path for holding the next general elections in a free, fair and inclusive manner.

Taking part in the talks, most of the political parties placed their recommendations not to hold the next national polls using the EVMs.

Besides, the ruling Awami League and some of its like-minded political parties gave their opinions in favour of the electronic device.