The Election Commission (EC) has recommended departmental action to be taken against 125 presiding officers for negligence in carrying out duties during the Gaibandha-5 by-polls on October 12, which was suspended over electoral anomalies.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal was addressing a press briefing at the commission office in the capital's Agargaon this afternoon.

However, he said that the commission did not find any complaints of irregularities against the Gaibandha DC, SP and participating candidates.

"The EC, thus, did not recommend any steps against them," he added

The CEC also informed that a new polling date for the Gaibandha by-election will be announced next week.

The commission suspended the by-polls on election day (12 October) following several reports of irregularities and vote rigging.

It also extended the deadline for holding any fresh election to the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat by three months, till 20 January 2023.

Following the death of Gaibandha-5 lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on 22 July 2022, it became a constitutional obligation to hold an election for the parliamentary seat by 20 October, 2022. 

BDST: 1615 HRS, DEC 1, 2022
MSK/SMS