Cabinet may discuss today RPO amendment for using EVMs

The cabinet is likely to weigh a proposal to amend the Representation of the People Order (RPO) today (Monday) to open a path for the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the parliamentary elections, said a senior official of the Cabinet Division, according to bdnews24.com.

The law ministry has sent the proposal to the Cabinet Division after verifying the Election Commission's proposal to amend the RPO.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside over the cabinet meeting at her office at 10.00am today (Monday). The amendment will have to be passed in the current session of parliament if the EC wants to use EVMs in the upcoming parliamentary election.

Most political parties, including the BNP, have opposed the use of EVMs in the parliamentary election. The EC decided to amend the RPO on August 30 and later sent it to the law ministry for scrutiny.

"The Election Commission wants to use the controversial EVMs in the election by ignoring people's opinion," BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Saturday.

On the other hand, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said there is no chance of any vote rigging via these machines. "Those who oppose this device are doing it out of ignorance."