Dhaka: The Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) has been induced for holding free, fair and impartial polls during the upcoming national election, said Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury on Saturday.

The EVMs are must for a holding a transparent and reliable election, said the commissioner while addressing at the opening ceremony of EVM Exhibition at Kabi Jashim Uddin Hall in Faridpur town, reports the UNB.

‘There remains zero possibility of vote rigging and vote theft if EVMs are used,’ the election commissioner said adding, ‘EVM has been induced to bring back peoples’ confidence in the voting process.’

‘The Election Commission is independent and working to ensuring an acceptable election,’ he further said.

The political atmosphere in the country after the announcement of election schedule will determine whether military deployment is necessary or not, he added.

EC Director Farhad Hossain, Faridpur Police Super Md Zakir Hossain Khan, Regional Election Officer Nuruzzaman Talukdar, among others, were present while Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Umme Salma Tanjia was on the chair.

In another function in Chattogram, Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said the EVM will be used on a limited scale in urban polling stations during the upcoming national election.

‘There will be no chance of rigging vote if EVM is used during the election,’ the EC secretary came up with the remarks while addressing at the opening ceremony of EVM Exhibition at Chittagong Fine Arts Academy Conference Centre on Saturday.

‘As the EVM system is modern and a new technology, it may seem doubtful, but we have to be usedtoby using it,’ said Helaluddin adding that the voters will not be allowed to cast their vote unless he/she has the smart card, voter ID card and the voter’s presence.

The EC secretary also claimed EVM was used during the Chattogram City Corporation Election in 2010 and the election was free and fair as well as the vote counting was done within the shortest time.