150000 EVM machines falters

EVM dream turns costly burden as 150,000 machines lie unused. Officials and experts say only a small fraction of the machines remains functional, while the rest have slipped into disrepair, raising serious questions about planning, procurement and the overall use of public funds.

The EVM project has also been hit by allegations of massive corruption and irregularities, reports UNB.
Experts have questioned the quality of the machines, excessive expenditure and their overall usability, with some claiming that the devices were procured in a way that could allow manipulation in elections.

According to findings, audit objections have been raised over the procurement of the machines and related equipment.

Investigators believe that irregularities in the purchase process contributed to significant financial losses.

Bangladesh first introduced EVMs on a trial basis in 2010 under the leadership of then Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda.

The machines were used for the first time in a ward during the Chattogram City Corporation election in 2011, using devices developed by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

However, technical problems soon became evident. In the 2013 Rajshahi City Corporation election, a malfunction in one centre prevented the announcement of results, prompting the then commission to step back from using EVMs.

The initiative was revived after a new Election Commission took charge under KM Nurul Huda, with plans to expand the use of EVMs in elections. In 2017, the machines were again used on a trial basis in several polling rooms in a ward during the Rangpur City Corporation election.

From the beginning, the introduction of EVMs remained politically controversial. While the then ruling Awami League had promoted the system as a modern and transparent method of voting, opposition parties, including the BNP, raised doubts about its neutrality.

Election experts, observers and civil society members also expressed concerns, but critics say these views were largely ignored.

Ahead of the 2018 national election, the government approved a project worth Tk 3,825 crore to procure 150,000 EVMs. However, the project reportedly did not clearly mention where the machines would be stored or how they would be maintained.

Now, the Election Commission is facing a dilemma over what to do with the machines, many of which have already exceeded their usable life. Officials are considering disposal, but the process has been stalled due to ongoing investigations into alleged corruption in the procurement.

The Anti-Corruption Commission is currently probing the allegations, while audit objections from the Comptroller and Auditor General’s office remain unresolved.

Officials said the machines cannot be disposed of at this stage, as doing so could create further complications during the investigation.

In addition, any disposal process will require clearance from the Department of Environment, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.

As a result, the costly EVM project now stands as a major challenge for the Election Commission, with unresolved questions over accountability, financial loss and the future of electronic voting in Bangladesh.

According to officials familiar with the matter, only a small fraction of the machines remains usable at present, while a significant number have already become faulty or non-functional.

Audit objections have been raised over the procurement process, with concerns about lack of proper planning, storage and maintenance.

One of the key issues highlighted by auditors relates to the pricing of the machines. According to the Comptroller and Auditor General’s office, each EVM was purchased at around Tk 2.34 lakh, significantly higher than the estimated market price. The audit suggests that the total cost could have been limited to about Tk 343 crore, indicating excess expenditure of more than Tk 3,000 crore.

Experts have also questioned the procurement method, noting that the machines were acquired without an open tender process. Instead, a direct procurement approach was followed, limiting competition and raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

In addition, the machines were supplied with only a one-year warranty. After the warranty period expired, further public funds were required to maintain and repair the equipment. Despite an expected lifespan of around 10 years, many machines reportedly developed faults within a short period.

Technology experts have attributed the situation to poor quality, inadequate testing and lack of proper maintenance. Recent findings suggest that a large portion of the stored machines are now unusable.

The ACC has launched an investigation into the project, focusing on procurement procedures, cost irregularities and the quality of the machines. Officials said the probe will also examine possible irregularities in training and operational expenses.

Sources have indicated that several influential individuals and senior officials were involved at different stages of the project.

Analysts say if these allegations are proven, it will point to a broader pattern of institutional corruption rather than isolated incidents.

There have also been allegations that EVMs were used to influence election outcomes, particularly in local government polls.

Opposition candidates in several city corporation elections claimed that results were manipulated through the use of these machines.

Critics have further alleged that there was no clear policy framework governing where and how EVMs would be used, and that decisions in this regard were sometimes influenced by political or financial considerations.

With changing political circumstances, there is now growing demand for accountability.

Experts and civil society representatives have called for those responsible for irregularities in the project to be identified and brought to justice, warning that failure to act could lead to similar large-scale misuse of public funds in the future.

Amid declining public confidence in EVMs, Bangladesh has returned to paper ballots for the 2026 national election. Many observers consider paper-based voting to be more transparent and reliable under the current conditions, although debate continues over the future role of electronic voting in the country.