Two former presidents of the country — HM Ershad and AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury — on Wednesday opposed the Election Commission's move to initiate the countrywide use of Electronic Voting Machines in the next general elections scheduled for 2014.
They suggested that the EVMs be used in the local government elections so that both the officials who conduct elections and the electors can get used to them before their use in the national elections.
HM Ershad, chairman of the Jatiya Party, and Badruddoza Chowdhury, president of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, led their party delegations in the dialogues with the Election Commission.
'The use of EVMs is good, but how far this machine is secure and proof to technical manipulation is still unknown. No general elections can be held on the basis of trust alone,' said Badruddoza Chowdhury in the dialogue.
The Jatiya Party suggested that the introduction of EVMs should be considered only after they have been used in the local government polls.
Both the parties expressed opposite opinions about the election-time caretaker government system.
'After the High Court's verdict on the caretaker government, there is no further scope to hold elections under that system,' said Ershad
Bikalpadhara Bangladesh recommended the holding of general elections under the caretaker government system, saying that the political governments of Bangladesh do not have the ability to conduct free and fair elections. 'The Election Commission cannot discharge its duty independently since its hands are tied,' said Badruddoza.
Bikalpadhara Bangladesh proposed enhancement of the number of constituencies under the Dhaka City Corpo-ration from 15 to 18 before the next national elections.
Chief Election Commi-ssioner ATM Shamsul Huda, Election Commissioners Muhammed Sohul Hossain and M Sakhawat Hossain represented the Election Commission in the dialogues.
source:New Age
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