The Supreme Court yesterday stayed a High Court order that halted the auctioning of 4G spectrum for the telecommunication industry of Bangladesh.

Chamber Judge of the SC's Appellate Division Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain came up with the order after a brief hearing on a petition filed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) seeking a stay on the order.

He also sent the petition to the full bench for its hearing on next Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the HC stayed effectiveness of two BTRC circulars inviting applications for the 4G spectrum auctioning. The bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed passed the order following a writ petition filed by a wireless internet provider.

It also sought explanation from the authorities concerned of the BTRC and the government why the circulars should not be declared illegal. Bangla Lion Communications Ltd filed the writ claiming that BTRC issued the circular in contravention of the clauses 4.2 and 4.06(3) of broadband wireless guideline, 2008, petitioner's lawyer Ramzan Ali told reporters.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam appeared for the BTRC.