Trackback URL
Download PDF The Canadian High Commission yesterday informed the Election Commission (EC), ruling BNP and main opposition Awami League (AL) that use of transparent ballot boxes is not possible in the next general elections of Bangladesh.
The EC secretary told The Daily Star that they did not seek the information from the Canadian High Commission.
EC sources said a Canadian High Commission letter reached the EC Secretariat yesterday saying it will take at least two years and $5 million to produce the necessary transparent ballot boxes required in Bangladesh for the next election.
EC Secretary Abdur Rashid Sarkar said, “It is impractical to use transparent ballot boxes in the next general elections.
“The transparent ballot boxes will cost $5 million,” he told reporters at his office yesterday, adding, “They will not be able to deliver such requirement before two years.”
EC Joint Secretary M Zokoria also echoed him.
EC officials said the Canadian High Commission’s letter issued to the chief election commissioner and the secretaries general of BNP and AL advised to leave the issue.
AL and BNP officials said they did not receive any such letter from the Canadian High Commission as of 7:00pm last night.
The European Union on July 18 last year offered to provide the EC with transparent ballot boxes for the next parliamentary polls to stop irregularities in voting. The EC, however, showed little interest.
WORK ORDER ISSUED
The EC Secretariat yesterday issued the work order for printing the updated voter list for the next general elections.
Describing himself as the “most relaxed” now, the EC Secretary told the press, “Everything relating to holding the next general election is going on the right track.”
The EC has completed selecting 38 vendors for the printing task and their work order was issued yesterday, Sarkar said, adding, “We expect the printed voter list to be available in our hand by November 31.”
A total of 185 organisations took part in the tender process for printing the voter list.
Comments are not moderated and only expresses personal views of visitors. BangladeshNews.com.bd is not responsible for commets posted by visitors.
Leave a Reply