Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Mohammad Jabed Ali on Monday said Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will not be used in the upcoming national elections, reports UNB.
“EVMs won’t be used in the next parliamentary polls as the existing law does not stipulate the use of those,” he said while exchanging views with the law enforcement agencies and high officials of the administration at the regional election office ahead of the polls to Sylhet City Corporation.
In reply to a query, Jabed said no candidate will be spared if he/she conceals information. “Action will be taken against them following investigation. It might be before or after the polls.As per constitutional provisions, the upcoming national elections would be held before 90 days from 24 January, 2014.
The incumbent grand alliance government formed the government on January 25 following the landslide victory in the national election, held in 2008.
Earlier on June 6, the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, also the Leader of the House, said, the last day of the ninth Parliament would be October 25 and the next general election would be held under the interim government in ways similar to those in other countries having parliamentary democracy.
The election commission earlier declared that it will experimentally use EVM, electronic voting machine, in four wards in the four city corporation's election, one in each.
The elections to the Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal city corporations will be held on June 15.
The last elections to Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal city corporations were held on August 4, 2008.
As per city corporation laws, the five-year tenure for a city corporation starts from the first meeting of the mayor and councilors and the elections must be held within 180 days after which the tenure expires.
