, April 10 -- Around 150,000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), procured at a cost of Tk 3,825.34 crore to modernise Bangladesh's election system during the Awami League regime, have now become a burden for the Election Commission, with experts calling for their disposal after most of the devices fell into disrepair.

Officials say the majority of these machines are no longer usable - with only a few thousand currently functional, raising serious concerns over the effectiveness of the project and the use of public funds.

The EVM project has also been hit by allegations of massive corruption and irregularities.

Experts have questioned the quality of the machines, excessive expenditure and their overall usability, with some claiming that ...