Bangladesh people have no faith in EVM: Shujan

Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik on Saturday said that people have no faith in Electronic Voting Machines which would be used in forthcoming mayoral polls to Dhaka north and south city corporations.

The voters has nothing to do if polling officials manipulate the electronic voting system as the voters has no control over the EVMs, SHUJAN secretary Badiul Alam Majumder said at a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

He said that presiding officers enjoyed independence of casting 25 per cent votes through EVMs in previous elections where the EVMs were used.

‘If the presiding officer cast votes, there was no way to identity it,’ he said, adding that people are not ready to use EVMs and they are still confused over the technology. ‘We should use EVMs in elections on the basis of consensus,’ he said.

The civic forum asked the Election Commission to hold the city polls slated for February 1 in ‘free, neutral and peaceful’ manner.

‘The commission should scrutinise information provided by the candidates in their affidavits along with their nomination papers but it is apparently not doing it,’ he said.

Badiul Alam also asked the Election Commission, law enforcement agencies, concerned government officials and political parties to ensure a fair election for the sake of the people.

He said standard of candidates in elections to Dhaka north and south city corporations was on a downward trend while the number of contestants decreased for partisan nomination of candidates.

According to the SHUJAN findings, most candidates for mayor, councillor and reserved seat councillor for women are from business background.

In Dhaka north city, three of six mayor candidates are businessmen while 203 of 252 councillor candidates are businessmen and 35 of 77 reserved seat councillors for women are from business community. As a result, 241 of 335 candidates or 72.81 per cent of the candidates are from business background.

In Dhaka south city, four of seven mayor candidates are businessmen while 268 of 325 councillor candidates are businessmen and 33 of 82 reserved seat councillors for women from business community. As a result, 301 of 414 candidates or 73.59 per cent of candidates are from business background.

In Dhaka north city, no mayor candidates are facing any case while 98 councillor and nine reserved seat councillor for women are facing cases for different offences. And 16 councillor candidates are facing murder cases.

The data said that 109 or 26.65 per cent candidates of the north city polls are facing cases.

In Dhaka north city, no mayor candidates are facing any case while 88 councillor and 11 reserved seat councillor for women are facing cases for different offences. 23 councillor candidates of them are facing murder cases under Section 302 of Panel Code.

The data said that 99 or 29.91 per cent candidates of the north city polls are facing cases.

In Dhaka south city, two mayor candidates are facing cases while 98 councillor and nine reserved seat councillor for women are facing cases for different offences. Sixteen councillor candidates of them are facing murder cases.

The data said that 109 or 26.65 per cent candidates of the south city polls are facing cases.

As per compilation, out of 449 contestants in two city corporations, 208 or 46.33 per cent candidates are accused in different cases including murder case.

At least seven candidates, two mayor and five councillors, in Dhaka north and three contestants including two mayor and one councillor candidates of Dhaka south city are millionaire.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net