Dhaka, Sept 2 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the electronic voting machines (EVMs) should not be imposed hurriedly as the machines need to be introduced on a limited scale in national elections.
“There’s an EVM system in many countries of the world. I was always and still, I’m in favour of it. Yes, this is right it shouldn’t be imposed in hastily as it’s a matter of practice. We’ll have to examine it,” she said while addressing a press conference at her official residence Ganobhaban.
The press conference was arranged to brief the media about the outcomes of her just-concluded visit to Nepal for attending the 4th Bimstec summit.
The Prime Minister said the introduction of EVMs is part of the government’s ‘Digital Bangladesh’ vision as it is a new technology.
“Well, let it (EVM) be used in some places. Let people examine gradually whether there’s any system loss here (with machines),” she said.
Hasina said if any system loss is found in assessment, the EVM use will be cancelled. “This not final words (EVM must be introduced). There’s nothing to raise so much of objections here. Let’s start using the technology on a limited scale.”
Noting that BNP is very much vocal against EVM, she said BNP does not want the EVM as they will not be able to apply their vote-rigging technique with the machines.
“They know a good rigging technique…. we’re yet to discover it,” she said adding that even election observers could not find out their technique.
Explaining the justification behind the EVM use, Hasina said now people doing their money transactions online, buying sacrificial animals, foodstuff and all other things online.
She said money is the most important thing to people, which they can send online. “If you can trust money transaction online why can’t you trust it (EVM)?”
Hasina said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed her that India developed software so that people can cast their votes using mobile phones from any place across the world. They will not require going to polling stations to exercise their voting rights, she added.
The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said there is no doubt that the next general election will be held in a free and fair manner.
“There’s no doubt the election will be free and neutral… we’re not there to rig votes,” she said while addressing a press conference at her official residence Ganobhaban.
The press conference was arranged to brief the media about the outcomes of her just-concluded visit to Nepal for attending the 4th Bimstec summit.
“We’re working for people. If people vote us, we’ll be there in power again, otherwise not. I repeatedly said it. I mean what I say,” Hasina said.
The Prime Minister said the election must be held (in time) and no one can resist it. “No one has the capability to foil the election.”
About BNP’s demand for Khaleda’s release, Hasina said the BNP Chairperson can be freed from jail either by the court or through presidential clemency.
“The government has nothing to do with it…she (Khaleda) has either to go to court or seek clemency from the President,” Hasina said replying to a question.
On Saturday, BNP leaders at a rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office demanded the government release their chairperson Khaleda Zia to ensure the party’s participation in the next polls.
About Rohingya issue, the Prime Minister said Myanmar has committed a horrible thing by carrying out falsehood releasing fake photos in social media over Rohinga issue.
“They’ve committed a terrible work. They’ve tarnished their own image with this. They’ve destroyed their position at the international stage,” she said.
She said the same propaganda with fake photos was also carried out by BNP-Jamaat in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in Bangladesh. “My question is whether they (Myanmar) learnt the tactic from our BNP-Jamaat.”
During the Bimstec summit in Nepal, Hasina said she had talks with the Myanmar President over Rohingya issue and the repatriation agreement signed between the two countries.
Hasina said the Myanmar President told her that they are ready to take back those who want to go back to Myanmar.
The Prime Minister said she never wants the confrontational situation with neighboruing country Myanmar.
She said Myanmar never denies anything, and says it will take back the Rohingyas. “But the reality is it doesn’t act accordingly.”
The Prime Minister visited Nepal on August 30 and 31 to attend the two-day summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec), a seven-nation economic bloc of the South Asia and South East Asia.
The seven Bimstec member states are Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal. – UNB
