They also strongly demanded immediate establishment of an Islamic Arabic University.

"Ulama-Mashayekh is such a potential force that no political party can ascend to power bypassing them," said Mufti Fazlul Haq Amini MP at the convention organised by the daily Inqilab at Osmani Memorial Hall in the city.

Referring to the secular political parties, Amini said that none can dismiss the Ulama community from the politics and that no party will be able to manipulate them for political gains.

"Jamaat-e-Islami is the main enemy of Islam today," said Moulana Syed Fazlul Karim of Islami Shashantantra Andolon, accusing the Islamist party of creating a split in the Madrasa teachers' organisation.

Disunity among the Alems and religious leaders has undermined the pro-Islamic forces, said Moulana Obaidul Haq, Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

"Many of the leaders who run different political fronts and Islamic institutions behave like dictators, causing resentment among others," he said and called on the Islamic leaders to work on the basis of consensus and amity.

"Despite being a majority, the Muslims in Bangladesh do not cause any harm to Qadiani community but Muslims are firm to consider Qadianis as non-Muslim and non-believer," said AMM Bahauddin, editor of the Inqilab.

Justice Abdur Rouf, Vice-chancellor of the National University Dr Aftab Ahmad and Moulana Muhiuddin Khan also spoke.

Several hundred leaders of most Islamic political parties, except the Jamaat, and institutions from across the country attended the convention.