EVM being procured before project approval
The cabinet is yet to approve procurement of electronic voting machines (EVM).
And a new law enabling use of EVM in the parliamentary polls has not yet been enacted either.
But, the process to procure EVMs worth billions started in July, sources in the election commission said.
Such is the case when most of the political parties oppose use of EVM in the national elections, fearing malpractice.
The election commission (EC) does not have the logistical ability to use EVM in such a big occasion, say stakeholders. Besides, Representation of the People Order (RPO) is yet to be amended to give legal coverage to this initiative.
Amid the EVM debate, the EC has suddenly reignited its plans to amend the RPO. The sudden move, just two months beofre the announcemenmt of the election schedule, has been questioned by the political parties.
They wonder if 150,000 EVMs will be procured just to serve vested quarters, especially when they do not have the capacity to make the best use of them.
The election commissioners are themselves divided into opinions. Some think buying so many EVMs now is unnecessary and it will be a questionable decision since the EC does not have skilled manpower to use them.
The election commission sat with 39 political parties last year to seek their suggestions regarding a number of issues, including use of EVM. Twenty three of those parties expressed their views on EVM, with 12, including BNP, opting against it. The ruling Awami League was one of seven parties who wanted the EVM while three wanted partial use and one suggested using it provided some conditions are met.
The EC had till date said that EVMs will not be introduced if all the parties do not endorse it.
But now they have made a U-turn, saying they have plans to use EVM in the national polls.
They have already started a five-year Tk 38 billion project regarding the procurement of 150,000 EVMs with Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF) being tasked to supply the machines. The EC was to hold a meeting of the project evaluation committee on 19 August, but it was not eventually held.
Despite the impasse, the Trust Bank got a special permission from the Bangladesh Bank to open a letter of credit (L/C). Official documents say the BMTF would buy the machines and other machinaries from China, Hong Kong and other countries. Till date, L/Cs worth over Tk 7 billion have been opened. Around Tk 16.96 billion would be spent to buy the machines.
Trust Bank sought the approval of the central bank on 5 July and the BB okayed it that very day.
BB executive director and spokesperson Sirajul Islam told Prothom Alo that they have given the Trust Bank special permission.
Former comptroller and auditor general M Hafizuddin Khan said to Prothom Alo, “It is not right to open an L/C before a project has been okayed. It has to be approved first and then vetted by the ECNEC. Then there will be a work order. What are they (EC) up to? Why are they in such hurry?”