They demanded trial of the killings of two judges in Jhalakathi, journalist Goutom Das at Faridpur and protested countrywide serial bomb attacks on August 17. They also protested beating up of a journalist of the daily Janakantha at the Secretariat yesterday.

President of Shammilita Nagorik Shamaj Air Vice Marshal A K Khandker presided over the rally at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city while Justice K M Sobhan, President of Dhaka University Teachers' Association (Duta) AAMS Arefin Siddiqui, Prof Anisuzzaman, Member of Parliament and Vice President of Shammilita Shangskritik Jote Asaduzzaman Noor spoke.

Referring to the bomb attack on August 17, Dr Anisuzzaman pointed out that the upsurge of the extremist group did not take place in a day.

" The government did not stand firm against the Islamic zealots. For this reason the spirit of liberation war and constitutional rights of people are now threatened. A united movement to resist the fundamentalist force is a must," he added.

It is time to take the challenge of the fanatic groups and to resist them in a democratic way through a united movement, said Justice K M Sobhan.

Prof Arefin Siddiqui said though the extremist force is ruling the country and engaged in corruption; most of the countrymen are still ethical and democratic.

The speakers also urged all to make the grand rally on November 22 a success under the banner of 14 party alliances in oder to oust the government.