EC plans limited EVM use in fifth UZ election

Backtracking from its previous stance, the Election Commission (EC) is going to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) on a very small scale in the 5th countrywide upazila election which will be completed in five phases, reports UNB.

Though the Commission had a plan to hold all district sadar upazila polls with EVMs, the EC has announced to use the machines in only 10 upazila parishads in the 3rd and 4th phases of the upazila elections.

The polls to four upazila parishads in the second phase and six upazila parishads in the third phase will be completely with EVMs instead of traditional ballot papers, said EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed on Saturday.

"But the Commission has yet to take the decision whether the EVMs will be used in the fifth and final phases," he told the news agency.

The 10 upazilas are Rangpur Sadar, Gopalganj Sadar, Manikganj Sadar and Meherpur Sadar of the third phase, and Cox's Bazar Sadar, Patuakhali Sadar, Mymensingh Sadar, Bagerhat Sadar, Munshiganj Sadar and Feni Sadar of the fourth phase election.

The third and fourth phases of the election will be held in 117 upazila parishads today (Sunday) and 122 upazila parishads on March 31.