Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum has issued the following statement on 24th August 2022 protesting the decision of casting votes by using controversial EVM technology in 150 constituencies in the upcoming 12th National Election.

The election commission has decided to take votes by using Electric Voting Machine (EVM) technology in 150 constituencies in the upcoming 12th National Election. The election commission has taken a decision amid huge debate and controversies centering this technology. Almost all political parties expressed their reservation about this technology. CEC Kazi Habibul Awal earlier also told that most of the political parties do not have trust in EVM. Despite such observation, they have taken the decision. The countrymen think this election commission is subservient to the government, and as per the directives of the ruling party, they have taken the decision of using EVM in 150 constituencies ignoring the opinions of most of the parties. We are protesting and condemning this decision.

He further said the decision has been taken in favor of EVM in order to make forgery and fraudulence in the election. Even many other countries of the world have stopped using EVM. In the recently held Narayanganj city election, the voters faced trouble in casting votes due to EVM. The experts already termed EVM as the box of rigging. The countrymen do not have trust in EVM. The government is mulling holding another farcical election through its subservient election commission. But the countrymen will not allow them to make it happen.

I am urging all to take part in the movement for stopping the usage of EVM and also to ensure fair elections under caretaker or non-party government.