Dhaka, Jan. 27 -- The High Court has stayed the Election Commission's decision to reject the nomination papers of BNP candidate Sarwar Alamgir for the Chattogram-2 constituency in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election.

The court also directed the Election Commission to accept his nomination and allot him the party's sheaf of paddy symbol, clearing the way for him to contest the Feb 12 election.

The order was issued on Tuesday by the panel of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan following a preliminary hearing on a writ petition filed by Sarwar challenging the commission's decision.

His nomination had earlier been declared valid by the returning officer. However, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Nurul Amin later appealed to the...