Parishad leaders also called for stepping up security for opposition leader and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina who narrowly escaped the deadly grenade attacks on August 21.

They demanded international investigation into the grisly attack that left 19 people dead and over 200 injured, saying that they were sceptical about the investigation commission formed by the government.

"We want that an international committee comprising FBI, Scotland Yard and others should conduct the investigation," said AAMS Arefin Siddique, president of Dhaka University Teachers' Association, at a press conference.

"The beneficiary group never wants Hasina to be alive so that they could rule the country for another 21 years as they did after the killing of Bangabandhu," said Prof AK Azad Chowdhury.

On proposed dialogue between the government and the opposition, he said it could not be effective as the opposition has lost confidence in the government.

The Parishad leaders said a vested quarter wanted to kill democratic-minded people and free thinkers so that no-one dares to say anything against fundamentalism and fascism.

Justice KM Sobhan, Prof Kabir Chowdhury, Prof Shamsul Huda Harun, journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and SA Malek, general secretary of Bangabandhu Parishad, also spoke.