FROM PAGE 12

Akhtar said EVMs were not used in the national election and would not be used in local polls.

He added that a decision on the issue would be made after receiving investigation reports from the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh, and a commission reviewing the last three parliamentary elections.

EC officials said there are 148,401 EVMs in its inventory, while 1,599 cannot be traced. With each costing around Tk 2.35 lakh, the missing machines are worth about Tk 37.5 crore. The EVMs are currently stored at multiple locations, including 86,233 units at Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BTMF), which has asked the EC to pay Tk 70.40 crore in storage charge.

Asked if the EVMs were faulty, he replied, “We will wait for the investigation reports. The public has lost confidence in EVMs, and questions remain about their lifespan.”

Asked about the submission of election expenditure returns to the EC by candidates, Akhtar said the EC has extended the deadline by another month.

According to the Representation of the People Order (RPO)-1972, they are required to submit their expenditure returns within 30 days of the gazette notification of election results.

“Several candidates applied for extensions, and we granted them more time,” Akhtar said.

When asked how many candidates submitted their election expenditure returns or sought extensions, the secretary said he could not provide figures but confirmed the extension.

Asked whether the EC would take action for violating RPO, the EC secretary said, “We have extended the deadline further. Once this period expires, we will decide on the next course of action.”

Meanwhile, the EC said there is no reason for concern regarding holding of Sherpur-3 general election and Bogura-6 by-polls, both slated for April 9.

Law enforcement agencies and presiding officers have assured the commission of a normal situation in both constituencies. Sherpur-3 has 129 polling centres and Bogura-6 has 151, he added.

The EC secretary said the commission is also awaiting the High Court verdict for the publication of the gazette containing the results of Chattogram-2, 4.

Akhtar said 50 post-election cases have been filed over the 13th parliamentary polls. “The election materials for these 50 constituencies must be preserved until the court disposes of the cases.”