Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar opposed a move to amend the law to allow electronic voting machines or EVMs in the looming national election.
Talukdar has walked out of a commission meeting half an hour after it started over the planned amendment to the Representation of the People Order or RPO and later sent a ‘note of dissent’ through an officer on Thursday.
“I believe the EVM can be used gradually in the local election but I do not support the initiative to amend the RPO to use the EVMs in the 11th national election. I am issuing the note of dissent to differ with the decision of the commission,” he wrote.
He has cited an ‘existing political conflict’ and ‘lack of skilled manpower’ as the reason for his objection.
Talukdar has issued ‘notes of dissent’ at least on three occasions since the present five-member commission led by KM Nurul Huda took over in February last year.
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” Talukdar told bdnews24.com when it sought his comments on his walkout.
The 11th national election is expected to be held in December.
“The RPO will not be amended as there is not much time left for the election,” EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed had said earlier.
However, the Election Commission suddenly initiated a process to amend the RPO and the EC officials prepared a project proposal of around Tk 40 billion to buy the EVMs.
The first phase of the commission meeting on the issue of RPO amendment on Aug 30 concluded without any decision. The meeting resumed shortly after 11am on Thursday.
The EC secretary and other officials were present at the meeting along with the five members of the Election Commission.
“Although the ruling party has welcomed the use of EVMs, the main opposition party along with other political parties opposed the idea. There is no scope to use the EVMs in the 11th national election through a consensus among all parties,” said Talukdar.
The ruling party and the opposition had a different opinion on the issue of the use of the EVM in the election. Also, the chief election commissioner had said the EVMs will be used in the 11th national election only if all political parties reach a consensus.
Talukdar has called for further discussion on the issue.
source: bdnews24.com
