Bangladesh to go to polls on December 23, use EVMs for first time

DHAKA: Bangladesh will hold its general election on December 23 and for the first time will use electronic voting machines on a limited scale, the electoral body announced on Thursday, amid an impasse between the government and the main opposition alliance over the timing of the polls.

Chief election commissioner AKM Nurul Huda said all arrangements have been made to ensure the election will be peaceful. Candidates must file their applications on November 19. Huda said all political parties would receive an equal opportunity and urged all to contest the election.

Huda’s announcement came amid calls from the newly floated National Unity Front to defer the poll schedule while the ruling Awami League urged the commission to stick to its plan. Hasina’s arch rival, former PM Khaleda Zia, is in jail on graft charges. Her party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, boycotted the last election in 2014 over fears it would be rigged Huda also announced the plan for the use of EVMs on a limited scale. “We believe that if EVMs are used, it will improve the quality of the voting process and save time, money and labour.” Earlier, EVMs were partially used in local government elections.