Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said the Election Commission is still not completely sure about the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next 12th parliamentary elections.

“We have not reached any definite decision about how many elections can be done with EVMs,” he told reporters after a meeting with European Union (EU) delegation.

“The delegation asked whether there is any distrust in EVM. We said the confusion about EVMs has gone away. But I have also informed them that I am still not completely sure about the use of EVM, as it is not yet sure if the required number of EVMs will be available,” said the CEC.

In response to a question of reporters, he said, “A delegation of the EU also visited us here in July last year. There was an exchange of views with them about the election. As an election year nears, they have come to exchange views again.”

“Basically, they came to know how our election preparations are going and the electoral role. I have told them whether there is any initiative to redefine the limits of parliamentary seats, and make the election participatory or not. We cleared our current stance and said we were ready,” added he.

Ambassador Charles Whiteley said reporters the European Union is interested to send polls observers to Bangladesh for the next parliamentary election.

“We are very heartened by the positive comments by the Bangladesh authorities on welcoming foreign observers,” he said adding that they discussed a wide range of topics on preparation over the next parliamentary election.