The highest court in the country also ordered the authorities concerned to hold elections to BCB 'under the exiting law' in the shortest possible time.

The order came upon a petition filed by Rafiqul Islam Babu, a BCB councillor.

The second stay order once again throws the elected directors into uncertainty with their tenure about to expire this month.

The directors, who were elected in February 2001 for a four-year term, were thrown out following Rafiqul's first writ petition on August 11, 2002 where he challenged Clause 12 of the BCB constitution.

Since then BCB president Ali Asghar has been running the show with a council of 10 advisors.