Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Returning Officer of Rangpur district to complete the scrutiny of the nomination paper of BNP-nominated candidate Jamaat leader Prof Golam Rabbani within 24 hours after accepting it.

The seven-member bench of the SC led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after disposing off the appeal petition filed by the returning officer, reports the UNB.

Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali stood for Golam Rabbani while attorney general Mahbubey Alam represented the state.

Earlier on Monday, The HC directed the Returning Officer of Rangpur district to accept nomination paper of Jamaat leader Prof Golam Rabbani for Rangpur-5 constituency.

Rabbani’s lawyer Shishir Monir said when his client went to the returning officer to submit his nomination paper on November 28, the returning officer wasted time without any reason and finally did not accept his nomination paper. 

However, now the court directed the EC to accept nomination paper as soon as possible, he added.

Golam Rabbani also submitted a written application to the Chief Election Commissioner on Saturday.

Following the HC order, the district returning officer filed an appeal petition with the SC.