Addressing a press conference at the VIP Lounge of the Jatiya Press Club, he said the word crossfire now should refer to 'inflicting capital punishment without trial'.

"The killings in crossfire are extra-judicial executions in flagrant violation of our constitution and the international human rights convention to which Bangladesh is a party," said Dr Kamal, also president of Gono Forum.

He termed the authorities "deaf and blind" for their inaction in the face of pervasive lawlessness.

"The entire nation must unite in bringing about a change through democratic process when the people in power have gone deaf and blind," he observed.

Mentioning the violent death of Rajshahi University teacher Mohammad Yunus, journalists Humayun Kabir Balu, Manik Saha and August 21 grenade attack, the noted jurist described 2004 as a year of darkness.

He also expressed frustration at the 'lack of progress' in the investigation into those incidents and trial of the persons responsible.

The former foreign minister urged all political parties to shun narrow party interests and converge on a common platform for movement against violence, corruption and religious extremism.

Dr Kamal also suggested increasing allocation for the Election Commission and empowering its officials to act independently.

Referring to the demand of reforms in the caretaker government system, he proposed that a consensus among the political parties should be reached.

"A game could never be fair, if the umpire is not impartial," he said adding, "Won't we be able to find one person from a population of 14 crore?"

Oikya Mancha leaders Saifuddin Ahmed Manik, Abdur Rouf and Abul Kasem among others attended the press conference.