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TOFAIL-EVM-EC

Use of EVM EC’s decision: Tofail

DHAKA, Aug 30, 2018 (BSS)- Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed today said it depends on the Election Commission to take decision whether Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) will be used in the next parliament election or not.

“Use of EVM is not the decision of the government rather it is the Election Commission’s decision,” he told newsmen after a meeting with visiting US government’s Commercial Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Region James Golsen at his secretariat office here.

Tofail, also Awami League advisory council member, said EVMs were used in Sylhet and Rajshahi city corporations’ elections and EVM is also used in different countries in the world.

He said BNP is opposed to every good initiative. Since the formation of the incumbent Election Commission, the party is opposing it, he added.

Asked about the form of the polls-time government, Tofail said it is the complete jurisdiction of the Prime Minister to form the interim government before the parliament election.

He said the government, which stays during the election, will act as the interim government.

The minister said the next election will be held in due time and it will be a participatory one. If any political party intends to thwart the election, the government will handle it strictly, he added.

The AL leader said before the previous election, they invited BNP for holding dialogue but the party refused the invitation.

BSS/Asg/BKD/MKD/KU/1908 HRS