'EVM won’t be used in next parliamentary polls'

The Election Commission has decided not to use electronic voting machine (EVM) in the forthcoming general elections. The decision came in a meeting in the Election Commission office on Sunday, and an electoral roadmap was also finalised in the meeting attended by Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda, Election Commission Secretary Mohammad Abdullah Said told journalists. “The commission has planned to hold several rounds of dialogue with political parties between August and October,” he said, adding that dialogue would be held with civil society on 31 July and with the media early next month. “Seven issues have been given importance in the roadmap, which will be released in the form of a book on 16 July. Meanwhile, we have appointed two consultants to demarcate constituencies and amend electoral laws ahead of the polls,” the secretary added. Four election commissioners and the officials concerned were present in the meeting.