Receive, scrutinise Golam Rabbani's nomination

The Supreme Court yesterday ordered the returning officer of Rangpur-5 constituency to receive the nomination paper of BNP-backed aspirant Golam Rabbani in the next 24 hours.

The court also ordered the authorities concerned to complete the scrutiny of the Jamaat leader's nomination paper in the following 24 hours.

A seven-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the government seeking stay on a previous High Court order directing authorities to this effect.

“On November 28, Golam Rabbani went to submit his nomination paper. But, the returning officer did not accept the paper, despite having all relevant documents,” said Advocate Shishir Monir, a lawyer for Rabbani.

The returning officer refused to accept the document, saying that Rabbani was late for submission, the lawyer added.

Subsequently, Rabbani filed a writ petition challenging the returning officer's refusal to accept his nomination paper.

As per the Election Commission schedule, November 28 was the deadline for submitting nomination papers, while December 2 for scrutiny and 9 for withdrawal.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam appeared for the government, while Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali argued for Rabbani.

GOVT PETITION SEEKS STAY ON MIRZA ABBAS' NOMINATION

Meanwhile yesterday, the government filed another petition with the Supreme Court seeking stay on a High Court order that directed the chief election commissioner to forward and complete the scrutiny of BNP leader Mirza Abbas' nomination paper within 24 hours.

After a brief hearing yesterday, chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice Hasan Foez Siddique sent the stay petition to the full bench for hearing the matter today, said Barrister AKM Ehsanur Rahman, a lawyer for Mirza Abbas.