Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has again voiced her support for using electronic voting machines (EVM) in the upcoming 11th general election.
Addressing a press conference at Ganabhaban in Dhaka on Wednesday, she said her government has introduced different technological advancements to the election process.
“We are turning the country into Digital Bangladesh. Now people can send money using mobile phones, which they like. People also love to vote, so why should they not be able to cast their votes using mobile phones too?” she wondered.
She also added that she wanted a system to be built that would allow people to cast votes using mobile phones.
“Since the people have elected us, it is our responsibility to protect their right to vote,” Hasina said, adding that her government did not have any reservations about EVMs as they are a convenient method to be used during elections.
On August 29, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda announced that the Representation of the People Order (RPO) would be amended to facilitate the use of EVMs in the national polls.
Since their introduction in 2010, EVMs have so far been used in different local government elections only.
The Election Commission has drawn up plans to use 150,000 EVMs at polling centres in one-third of the country’s 300 constituencies during the general election. The move was immediately criticized by different quarters, including political parties.
