The Appellate Division has upheld the High Court (HC) order that the returning officer concerned should finish scrutinising BNP leader Mirza Abbas’ nomination paper within 24 hours.
A seven-member appeal bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order on Thursday (Dec 6) after disposing of the appeal petition filed by the state.
Senior lawyer Jainul Abedin and AKM Ehsanur Rahman moved for Abbas in the hearing while the state was represented by Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.
The court also issued a rule asking why refusal to accept of Mirza Abbas' nomination paper should not be declared illegal.
The chief election commissioner (CEC), election commission secretary, joint-secretary (election conducting wing-2), Dhaka divisional returning officer have been asked to respond to the rule.
On Nov 28, election official refused to accept the nomination paper of Mirza Abbas as he went to the returning officer's office after 5 pm.
Later, Abbas filed his nomination paper to CEC on Dec 1, but it was not sent to the concerned returning officer on Dec 2.
BNP standing committee member Abbas is a candidate who is looking to contest the election from Dhaka-9 constituency.
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