DHAKA: BNP secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged the Election Commission to implement an 11-point recommendation instead of spending Tk 4,000 crore on Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).

“If you (EC) have good will for holding a fair election, implement this 11-point recommendation with the money,” he added.

The senior BNP leader made the call at a press briefing in BNP chairperson’s Gulshan political office in Dhaka on Thursday noon (August 30).

Fakhrul’s 11-point recommendation are- install CCTV camera in 44,000 polling stations, develop infrastructure of the educational institutions to be used as poll centers, supply enough transportation to increase the mobility of Upazila Election Officers, install latest printing press to prevent ballot paper fraud, arrange necessary training to build up capacities of the Election official concerned, arrange proper training for polling agent of political parties and other stake holders, arrange adequate allowances for voting officials, arrange allowances for polls-time Ansar-VDP and village cop members, facilitate electricity in remote educational institutions to be used as poll centers, hold awareness campaign for voters and supply video cameras to each upazila election offices for taking footage or still pictures of voting. 

Aside from forwarding the proposal to EC, Fakhrul also highlighted the problems regarding the use of EVM in other countries. 

Senior BNP leaders were also present at the press briefing.

BDST: 1430 HRS, AUG 30, 2018
AP/SMS