Rights-groups challenged mass arrests in the High Court, a day after the government halted a clampdown in Dhaka that arrested over 7,000 people in nine days since April 18.

The court also asked the government to explain why Section 86 of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance, under which police made the arrests, should not be declared contrary to the constitution.

The deadline set by the court expired on May 18. An official at the Attorney General's Office says the government will send the reply when the issue is listed for hearing.

But the counsels for petitioners say the issue has nothing to do with being listed and the government should have submitted the court requirement to the Supreme Court Registrar's Office by the deadline.

Barrister Tanjib Ul Alam, one of the counselors for the petitioners, told The Daily Star that the government did not comply with the court order, adding: "We will inform the court about it on Saturday."

A coalition government policymaker said the rule lost its effect with the mass arrests coming to an end and arrestees released. "Still, we will reply to the order as the court issued it," he said.

"We will provide documents on a plot designed to overthrow the government, creating anarchy, which led the government to take administrative measures, including arrest of some people to protect national interest," he added.

A cabinet committee meeting on law and order on April 28 decided to include details of the 'plot' in government's reply to the court rule in line with intelligence reports of the home ministry.

The ministry sent the Attorney General's Office some documents, including secret agency reports, on the antigovernment 'plot'.

Police launched the nine-day dragnet in the run-up to the April 30 deadline of the main opposition Awami League (AL) for unseating the BNP-led coalition government.

"Mass arrests violated fundamental rights of people. The arrest of people right on their arrival in Dhaka without charges is arbitrary," Dr M Zahir, senior lawyer, said then, appearing for the petitioners. "Fear gripped the nation in the wake of the raids."