The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), an ally in opposition bloc Jatiya Oikya Front, has warned the Election Commission (EC) against using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Dhaka City polls, now to be held on Feb 1.
“I want to clearly state that, the people don’t prefer EVMs,” its chief ASM Abdur Rab told a media call at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity auditorium on Saturday (Jan 18).
Warning to “throw EVMs" into the sea, he said “EVMs have been rejected across the world.”
Describing e-voting as ‘new tool to rig polls’, Rab said, “The EC promised to exclude EVMs if the stakeholders and voters disagree. Now, it has unilaterally decided to use EVMs without paper trails.”
According to him, the 'BUET engineer who initiated it' also has stated that without a paper trail a voter can't be sure whether his franchise has been exercised properly.
Responding to a query on boycotting the election, Rab said that it was yet to be decided.
“We will continue the movement against use of EVMs. It [boycotting polls] is the last option,” he said.