Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday said the Election Commission will take action against 133 officials for their negligence in duty during Gaibandha-5 by-election.

The CEC made the remark during a briefing at the Election Commission building in Dhaka.

Gaibandha-5 by-election was suspended amid allegations of “malpractices” on October 12 this year.

“A returning officer conducts the whole election. It his routine duty to visit the polling centres as many times as possible. But he neglected his duties. He visited the centres with Deputy Commissioners and Police Supers when the CEC informed him about the irregularities over telephone,” he said.

He also said the returning officer was supposed to visit and check to ensure that all activities were being carried out according to law and take immediate initiative to prevent any unwanted incident.

“But he absolutely failed to perform their duties. He did not find any irregularities in the electoral area. When the CEC was about to take the decision to suspend the election, the returning officer suspended the voting of a centre to demonstrate his performance,” he said.

Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-election: Wait for a decision, says CEC

Had he performed his duties properly, it would have been possible to prevent the irregularities in the early stage, CEC Awal said.

The CEC also said that the EC Secretary has been instructed to take action against the accused returning officer.

Gaibandha-5 by election will be held in due time according to the constitution, he added.

Earlier, the CEC extended the deadline for holding the Gaibandha-5 polls till January 30.

According to the constitution, if any constituency falls vacant then the position must be filled within 90 days through an election.

Read more: 'Gaibandha by-election was an isolated case': Election Commissioner

Following the death of Gaibandha-5 lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on July 22, 2022, it became a constitutional obligation to hold election for the parliamentary seat by October 20, 2022. But the EC cancelled the election because of “widespread malpractices” on the election day on October 12.