They said journalists were not given permission to meet with arrested militant kingpins Shaekh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai as Jamaat-e-Islami, a partner of four-party alliance government, has direct link with religious militants.

Under the programme, a human chain was formed in front of Abahani ground at Dhanmondi in the city demanding that the killers of all political leaders including former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria be brought to book.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, former president of Dhaka University Teachers' Association, said, " The arrest of Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai is not the success of the government. Rather, it is a victory of mass media that forced the government to nab the militants."

He said top militants were under the shelter of the government and it is clearly evident from the fact that the government leaders denied their existence saying they are the creation of media.

Arefin urged the opposition parties not to sit with the anti-liberation forces like Jamaat for the proposed reform talks.

Dr Reza Kibria, son of the slain former minister, demanded an international probe for finding out the masterminds of militants and killers of his father.

Wearing blue clothes, family members of Kibria, leaders of Awami League, Mahila Awami League, Bangladesh Chhatra League and civil society members took part in the programme.

Members of Aamra Muktijoddhar Santan, Sonar Bangla Jubo Parisad and Bangabandhu Lalit Kala Academy were also present.

Kibria, also an AL lawmaker, was killed in a grenade attack at his hometown Habiganj on January 27, 2005.