They said the people at Kansat have given us the direction how to achieve legitimate demands.

The discussion titled 'National unity for national security' was held at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh in the city to mark the historic Mujibnagar Day.

Gonoforum and Jatiya Oikya Mancha President Dr Kamal Hossain said the government will have to seek pardon from people for its misrule across the country in the same way as it did at Kansat.

He said due to politicisation of constitutional posts, national security is now at stake.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Awami League (AL) leader Advocate Abdul Hamid said," If we can take financial statement of all lawmakers since the independence, we can eliminate 50 percent corruption from the country."

He said mere change of government is not enough to free the country from corruption, the mentality of the government has to be changed first.

With reference to the killings at Kansat and attacks on journalists in Chittagong, Vice-president of Bangladesh Bar Association Barrister Rokan Uddin Mahmud said there is no rule of law in the country.

"If the government prevents us from laying a siege to Prime Minister's Office on April 19, there will be another Kansat in the capital," said AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed.

General Secretary of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh Major (Retd) Adbul Mannan said the brutality of police at Kansat has surpassed the brutality of Pakistan military junta in 1971.

President of Workers' Party Rashed Khan Menon, President of Bangladesh Economic Society Dr Kazi Kholiquzzaman and President of Bangladesh Tariqat Federation Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari also took part in the discussion.