Bangladesh to cancel EVMs: Paper ballots only for general election

New Delhi: In a significant move likely to have a significant impact among the countries of South Asia, the Election Commission of Bangladesh has decided not to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next (12th) parliamentary elections, which are likely to be held early, in January 2024.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has not given any reason for cancelling EVMs. In Bangladesh, EVMs are not used in all constituencies. This time, the BEC was preparing to hold voting in at least in 150 constituencies through EVMs. The decision is a major deviation from the EC’s work plan for the next polls.

Major opposition political parties, including the BNP, have strongly protested against the use of the machines. Therefore, all 300 parliamentary constituencies in Bangladesh would see the use of paper ballots and transparent ballot boxes, the Bangladesh Election Commission in Dhaka has announced.

In India, also, most opposition parties have vociferously raised concerns about the use of EVMs for voting. However, repeatedly, both the Election Commission of India and the central government have rejected the demand. With India’s next door neighbour now showing the way of holding elections in a ‘free and fair manner’ by using the old paper ballot system, the Indian EC may come under pressure from opposition parties in the country.

Political observers and analysts have said in Dhaka that bringing back the old paper ballot will definitely boost the image of Sheikh Hasina’s government in ‘strengthening democratic values.’ Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in a press conference last month that, “we wanted to hold general elections using the EVMs. But many parties have raised objections about the neutrality of these machines. We had thought people would like to use the latest digital technology for choosing their government. Now we are leaving the decision to hold election to Election Commission. Whatever decision they take, we will abide by that.”

BEC Secretary Jahangir Alam announced the decision to abandon the EVMs after a meeting of the Election Commissioners on Monday. He said the government’s lack of funding to buy new machines and refurbish the old ones is a major reason behind the decision. Jahangir also told reporters that paper ballots and transparent ballot boxes would be used in all 300 constituencies during the forthcoming polls, scheduled for by early January 2024.

On the EC’s earlier plans to use EVMs in up to 150 constituencies, Jahangir said a Tk 8,000 crore project was undertaken in preparation, but the Planning Commission did not let the project go further. EVM suppliers, Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory, said Taka 1,260 crore would be needed to refurbish 1.1 lakh EVMs. The Commission had sought the money from the Finance ministry, but the ministry expressed its inability to pay that amount, he said.
But he also said, “Many political parties could not reach a consensus on the use of EVMs in the national election. The Commission may have made the decision considering all these factors.”

The EVM issue came to the fore after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at an Awami League meeting on May 7 last year, said electronic voting machines would be used in all 300 constituencies. Interestingly, on August 24 last year, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, ignoring the opposition to use of EVMs, said, “The decision to use EVMs was the Election Commission’s. The Commission will handle the polls, not the political parties. It is the Commission’s big responsibility to conduct the election.”

Major political parties, like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the main opposition in parliament, Jatiya Party (Ershad), Gono Forum and Communist Party of Bangladesh and others opposed the use of EVMs. The country’s media reported that 19 of the 39 registered political parties directly opposed the use of EVMs. At least 10 of them voiced their opposition during their talks with the EC between July 17 and July 31, 2022. During meetings with the BEC, only three parties — ruling Awami League, Samyabadi Dal and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh — said they want the EVMs.

A group of 39 eminent citizens had, on September 6, issued a statement urging the EC not to use EVMs. The statement said that use of the machines might provoke an unseemly political debate and erode people’s confidence in the commission.

—-INDIA NEWS STREAM