The Supreme Court yesterday stayed Thursday's High Court order of status quo and thereby cleared all the way for the government to send the rest of Bangladeshi artefacts to Paris exhibition.

Vacation-chamber Judge M Joynul Abedin, following an application moved by the government, passed the order lifting the legal roadblocks to display of the Bangladeshi archaeological masterpieces at the first major international exhibition at Guimet Museum in the French capital.

The artefacts from five Bangladesh museums were scheduled to be on display at the exhibition under an agreement signed between the French ambassador in Bangladesh and the secretary of the cultural affairs ministry.

Some 188 items were selected from Dhaka National Museum and the museums of Paharpur, Mahasthangarh, Mainamati and Barendra for the show.