Left parties demand non-party poll-time govt, oppose EVM

Left Democratic Alliance opposed on Wednesday the Election Commission (EC) 's planned move of employing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in one-third polling stations in the 11th national election, reports UNB.

The alliance leaders also demanded forming a non-party election-time government.

The leaders came up with the demands while addressing a press conference at Maitri Auditorium in Purana Paltan of the city.

Left Democratic Alliance is a combine of eight left-leaning political parties including Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesh Workers' Party, and Gonosanghati Andaloan.

The alliance leaders demanded resignation of the incumbent government, dissolution of parliament and reconstruction of the Election Commission before the announcement of the poll schedule.

CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim said, "We want a free and fair election under an election-time neutral caretaker government as country's history says no election under political government was fair and free."

He said to ensure a neutral election-time government, constitution should be amended, otherwise he feared the country would fall into deep crisis.

Selim said, "Government is planning to use EC to employ EVM in one-third polling centres for manipulating the election result" and he also urged the government to drop the plan as the EVM system is not transparent and acceptable to many political parties.

The aliance coordinator Saiful Haq announced its future programmes including seminar, view-exchange meetings, and rallies during September and October.