Only political consensus can delay election date, says CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda said on Tuesday the election date can be delayed if all the political parties reach a consensus to do so, but not the announcement of the election schedule, reports UNB.

If all the political parties agree, the election date can be revised, but not the announcement of the election schedule, said the CEC while talking to reporters after inaugurating a training programme on using Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) in the national election.

In his inaugural speech, the CEC said there is no alternative to EVM use to protect the interests of voters.

Nurul Huda said there are many difficulties in ballot paper use. "EVM will be introduced to avoid these difficulties. There's no chance of rigging of vote in the EVM system," he added.

The CEC went on saying, "Once there were legal complications in EVM use which is over now. The President has promulgated an ordinance. An EVM committee has been formed making Election Commissioner Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury its head.

The commission has decided to initially use EVM in urban areas."