Halt called to Bangladesh arrests

Awami League protests in April led to mass arrests

The Bangladesh High Court has told the government to suspend a special operation allegedly aimed at arresting opposition supporters.

The order came after four human rights groups filed a petition challenging the operation, which comes ahead of an opposition rally in Dhaka next month.

The police said nearly 2,000 people were arrested nationwide in a 24-hour period ending early on Wednesday.

The opposition Awami League says many are its supporters.

It accuses the government of making mass arrests to try to thwart its rally on 3 October.

Government ministers denied the operation was politically motivated.

They said the arrests were made as part of a continuous effort to improve law and order in the country.

The government launched a similar arrest campaign when the Awami League spearheaded rallies to bring down the administration earlier this year.

The High Court judges said on Wednesday they would hear the rights groups' petition on 3 October.