Live Correspondent: Election Commission has announced that no Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) will be used in next national election. EC secretary Md Jahangir Alam announced the decision after a meeting of election commissioners at the EC Secretariat on Monday.He said polling in all 300 constituencies in the next national polls will be held using ballot papers and transparent ballot boxes.

The EC secretary said they took the decision to use ballot paper due to lack of political consensus and necessary resources. On August 23, the EC decided to use EVMs instead of traditional ballot papers in maximum of 150 constituencies in the next general election – likely to be held early next year.

On September 19 last year, the Election Commission approved a Tk 8,711 crore project to procure electronic voting machines (EVMs) for 150 constituencies, out of 300, for the 12th parliamentary election.

The decision received strong opposition from BNP and its allies, who did not join talks with the CEC that continued throughout the month of July. However, the ruling Awami League welcomed the decision as it was their demand to use EVMs in all 300 seats in the next election.

On January 23, this year the government decided not to proceed with purchasing 2 lakh electronic voting m1348 Hrs 13achines (EVMs) citing the global economic recession.

The schedules for Gazipur, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal and Khulna city corporation election were also announced after the meeting. As per the schedules, the Gazipur City Corporation election will be held on May 25 while Khulna and Barishal on June 12, and Sylhet and Rajshahi on June 21.

Dhaka, 03 April (campuslive24.com)//CM