The HC division bench of Justice ABM Khairul Haq and Justice ATM Fazle Kabir passed the order following a petition that sought extension of the stay, which was valid until May 16.

The government on January 8 last year banned Ahmadiyya publications in an act against the country's rights and civil society groups, political parties and professional bodies.

Rights organisations view the ban as the government's surrender to agitation by anti-Ahmadiyya zealots believed to be spearheaded by Islamic Oikya Jote, coalition partner of ruling BNP.

Six civil society groups and a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Bangladesh (AMJB) filed the writ challenging the ban on December 20.

They are AK Rezaul Karim, an AMJB member and former deputy general manager of Bangladesh Bank, Odhikar, Sammilita Samajik Andolan, Ain o Salish Kendra, Karmajibi Nari, Jatiya Ainjibi Parishad and Nijera Kori.

The HC stayed the ban for two weeks in two phases and later for four months.

Gazette notification on the ban, which was underway, stopped in the wake of the stay order.

The anti-Ahmadiyya zealots, who have used different banners in course of their agitation and are now operating under International Khatme Nabuwat Movement, Bangladesh, demonstrated against the stay order.

They also issued threats at several rallies to the petitioners and lawyers moving the petition and took a swipe at civil society, rights organisations and newspapers for 'supporting the Ahmadiyyas'.