Introduce e-voting if people say yes
Senior journalists, members of civil society tell EC
Journalists and members of civil society yesterday supported Election Commission's (EC) bid to introduce electronic voting machines (EVM) in the next general polls on condition of people's affirmation.
They stressed the need of public opinion in its favour and initiation of necessary measures to further develop technology used in EVM to prevent vote rigging and ensure transparency.
About the decision of main opposition BNP to boycott the dialogue, the media personnel suggested for more of EC's efforts to bring BNP at the dialogue to make it more fruitful.
Both groups expressed their opinion in seperate dialogues with EC at the conference room of National Economic Council in the city as part of EC's ongoing dialogue to be held with 38 registered political parties till July 14.
The commission launched the dialogues on June 7 for opinions on key issues like use of EVM; Representation of the People Order; laws on demarcation of constituencies; and appointment of election commissioners.
Associate Editor of The Daily Star Shah Husain Imam, News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar, Amader Somoy Editor Nayeemul Islam Khan and head of news of ATN News Munni Saha attended the two and a half hour long dialogue beginning at 10:30am.
About allocation of EC-proposed public fund to be spent for electoral campaign, they opined for distribution of money on the basis of total vote ratio of party, rather than individual candidate.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda and Election Commissioners M Sohul Hussain and M Shakhawat Hossain were also present.
In response to the BNP issue, CEC said, "We sent them a formal invitation. But they did not reply. We can not go to any party office physically."
In a seperate dialogue beginning at 3:15pm, the civil society members suggested giving priority to people's opinion rather than demand of any political party.
If people feel comfortable with the new machine and think that it would be better for ensuring transparency, the EC can move forward, they said.
Former adviser to a caretaker government Sultana Kamal, noted columnist Syed Abul Maksud, former TIB chairman M Hafizuddin Khan, Sujan Secretary Badiul Alam Mazumder and Democracy Watch Executive Director Taleya Rahman attended the dialogue.
They also opined for deployment of the armed force during elections to maintain law and order, but the limit of their authority should be specified.
Earlier, EC met with Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal, Krishak Sramik Janata League and some other political parties on the issues.
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