Dhaka: Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said that Election Commission (EC) will decide on use of the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in the coming national election.

He said EC will take its decision accordingly if it finds it not possible to buy EVMs and use it in the next poll, expected to be held in this December.

Obaidul Quader was addressing as chief guest at a meeting organized by Dhaka North and South City Awami League marking the national mourning day at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh Auditorium.

Already EC has declared to use 1.5 lakh EVM machines and to conduct one-third voting in the election through this system, he added.

EVM is not a new demand from the Awami League, he said adding that developed countries as well as neighbouring country India also use EVM machines in their election as it is a latest technology.

Mentioning that the first EVM voting was done in Sylhet election where the ruling party fell behind in the result, then why the opposing parties fearing of it, wondered Quader.

Obaidul Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, in his speech slammed BNP over its demand for the trial of 21 August grenade attack saying that, it is only possible for the BNP to do such ‘cruel joke’.

The minister said that it is a democratic right of BNP to decide whether they will participate in the poll or not. The government has no scope to release someone jailed by the court, said Quader in oblique reference to jailed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Awami League will support the EC to conduct a peaceful, free and neutral election, he said adding that this December the election will be credible, fair, acceptable and as accordance to the constitution.

Welcoming the coalition of Gono Forum and the Jukta Front ahead of the election, he said, AL will face any movement politically.

But if violence is created in the name of any showdown or movement, the people of the country will resist it, said Quader.

The programme was presided over by Hazi Abul Hasnat, president of Awami Leagues Dhaka South city unit.