The government has violated the constitution through extra-judicial killings and granting amnesty to the ruling party cadres, they said at a protest rally in the city yesterday.

Mohiuddin Jhintu, president of BNP's Sweden unit, who had been absconding for 22 years, was granted presidential amnesty recently.

During the demonstration against the presidential amnesty at Bangabandhu Avenue, the protesters also burnt an effigy of the law minister.

The leaders alleged that the ministers managed to secure the amnesty for Jhintu in exchange for a hefty payment.

Organised by the Jubo League, the rally was addressed by AL presidium member Suranjit Sengupta MP and city AL General Secretary Mofazzol Hossain Chowdhury Maya.

Suranjit said the law minister no longer represent 14 crore people; now he is the minister of only the BNP and the Jamaat as the people have rejected him.

Maya said the alliance government has already released 70,000 criminals from jail and will free 20,000 more criminals in order to stifle the voice of the opposition.

The alliance government has to be ousted through movement in order to establish the rule of law in the country, said Mirza Azam MP, general secretary of the Jubo League.

Jubo League Chairman Jahangir Kabir Nanak, North unit President Abul Basar, Chhatra League President Liakat Shikdar and General Secretary Nazrul Islam Babu also spoke.