UK contributes $20m for photo voter list project
Friday, 31 August 2007
The United Kingdom (UK) has contributed US$ 20 million (Tk 140 crore) towards Bangladesh's 'Preparation of Electoral Roll with Photographs (PERP)' project to support the government of Bangladesh's effort to hold a credible, safe and fair election, reports UNB.
UK's Department for International Development (DFID) Country Representative Chris Austin said, "As a friend of Bangladesh we believe in the potential of this country and its people and we share the view that timely, credible elections are essential to Bangladesh's democracy, stability and security. A comprehensive and accurate voter list, which protects against electoral fraud is a pre-condition for a free, fair and open election."
"We are, therefore, pleased to be able to help in providing financial assistance for compiling a voter list with photo identity (ID) and we welcome the Election Commission's commitment to a roadmap for elections by the end of 2008 or sooner, should the voter list and electoral reforms be completed ahead of schedule", he said.
Under the PERP, Bangladesh's voter list will be compiled using software that electronically records voter information from a registration form. It will also use digital photographs and fingerprint scans, a DFID press release said.
The methodology was developed by the Bangladesh Election Commission with support from a team of both national and international consultants who worked in close consultation with the commission.
The PERP project is being implemented by Bangladesh Election Commission, the constitutional body responsible for conducting elections.
The PERP is jointly funded by the Government of Bangladesh, UNDP, the UK Government, the European Commission, and the governments of Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands and South Korea.
The UNDP is coordinating the contributions through a pooled UNDP project. The PERP's objective is 'to prepare a credible voter roll for elections in 2008 and to establish the technical and infrastructure capacity required for the Government of Bangladesh to maintain and update the voter roll thereafter'.
UK's Department for International Development (DFID) Country Representative Chris Austin said, "As a friend of Bangladesh we believe in the potential of this country and its people and we share the view that timely, credible elections are essential to Bangladesh's democracy, stability and security. A comprehensive and accurate voter list, which protects against electoral fraud is a pre-condition for a free, fair and open election."
"We are, therefore, pleased to be able to help in providing financial assistance for compiling a voter list with photo identity (ID) and we welcome the Election Commission's commitment to a roadmap for elections by the end of 2008 or sooner, should the voter list and electoral reforms be completed ahead of schedule", he said.
Under the PERP, Bangladesh's voter list will be compiled using software that electronically records voter information from a registration form. It will also use digital photographs and fingerprint scans, a DFID press release said.
The methodology was developed by the Bangladesh Election Commission with support from a team of both national and international consultants who worked in close consultation with the commission.
The PERP project is being implemented by Bangladesh Election Commission, the constitutional body responsible for conducting elections.
The PERP is jointly funded by the Government of Bangladesh, UNDP, the UK Government, the European Commission, and the governments of Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands and South Korea.
The UNDP is coordinating the contributions through a pooled UNDP project. The PERP's objective is 'to prepare a credible voter roll for elections in 2008 and to establish the technical and infrastructure capacity required for the Government of Bangladesh to maintain and update the voter roll thereafter'.