Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said it is not possible to hold the national elections using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all 300 seats at this moment.

He also said: “We still don’t have the capacity to hold elections to all the 300 parliamentary constituencies through EVMs. We've yet to take any decision over the issue.”

Kazi Habibul Awal was speaking to the media on Tuesday (May 10) after inaugurating a training program on Voter List Update-2020 at the Electoral Training Institute (ETI).

The EC already informed the matter in this regard and what will happen next is not yet decided, he said.

"We have already gone through several discussions. There will be more meetings in the future. Then we will decide. We will do our best to conduct free and fair elections. It is in our jurisdiction. The method is also under our jurisdiction, the CEC added.

In response to another question from the reporters, the CEC said anybody can give their opinion on this issue. Ultimately, the EC will review and decide the voting method as the Commission is independent in this matter.

The commission is not under any pressure regarding the election, he said, adding bringing someone to the polls is not the job of the commission as the main responsibility of the commission is to conduct fair and impartial elections.

From May 20, the Election Commission will update the voter list by going door to door across the country. In this case, the program will be completed in four steps. In the first phase, activities will continue in 140 upazilas from May 20 to June 9.

The inaugural function presided over by EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker was attended by trainees including four Election Commissioners and the Director General of ETI.

BDST: 1735 HRS, MAY 01, 2022

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