The High Court yesterday directed chief election commissioner (CEC) to immediately forward the nomination paper of BNP leader Mirza Abbas to the returning officer for scrutiny.

The court also directed the returning officer for Dhaka-9 constituency to complete the scrutiny within 24 hours.

The bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader passed the order following a writ petition filed by Mirza Abbas, challenging the returning officer's refusal to accept his nomination paper.

The bench also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the returning officer's refusal and the EC holding the nomination paper should not be declared illegal.

CEC, secretary to the election commission, its joint secretary concerned, divisional commissioner and returning officer of Dhaka-9 have been made respondents. 

On November 28, Mirza Abbas went to submit his nomination paper to the returning officer, who refused to accept it citing that the BNP leader was late in submitting the documents, said Barrister AKM Ehsanur Rahman, a lawyer for Mirza Abbas.

Mirza Abbas then submitted the nomination paper to EC on December 1, for sending it to the returning officer for scrutiny, but the commission did not send it, the lawyer said.