They also termed the statement of Vice-Chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council Rokanuddin Mahmud 'unconstitutional' as he called upon the SC judges to refrain from discharging their judicial functions voluntarily.

The lawyers criticised eminent lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain and former president Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury for their demand of an alternative government or national government replacing the elected four-party alliance government.

They reminded Rokanuddin that the judges are holding constitutional posts and they are oath-bound to discharge their judicial functions.

"His call is not only unconstitutional but is an affront to the concept of independent judiciary," they said.

They said suicide bombing is a new phenomenon in Bangladesh and the government took steps to increase the security measures on the court premises and provide gunmen to the judges.

"No doubt more effective steps will be taken in future to combat terrorism but in the absence of unity and co-operation among the political parties against the acts of terrorism, it would be difficult to adopt meaningful measures," they said.

They observed that there are interested quarters who want to paralyse judiciary and portray Bangladesh as a failed state.

They hoped that the people will be united and prevent this handful of politicians from resorting to undemocratic and unconstitutional means.

The lawyers are Tofazzal Hossain Khan, Khondker Mahbubuddin Ahmed MP, Ziaur Rahman Khan MP, Habibul Islam Bhuiyan, Mahbubur Rahman MP, Barrister AKM Nazrul Islam Khan, Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Barrister Abdur Razzaq and Jainul Abedin.