They also said the militants have increased their strength in the country with the government patronisation.

"The government wants to use the militants for its gains in the next election after giving amnesty to them," AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed said.

The AL organised the discussion on 'The rise of militancy and social degradation' at the National Press Club in the city.

"A total of 119 days of remand have been granted for JMB commander Sunny, which is unprecedented, even after he confessed to his involvement with the militants attacks," Tofail said, adding the government is also trying to shift the focus away from Mufti Hannan who attempted to kill Opposition Leader Sheikh Hasina and later confessed to such attempt.

The AL leader also criticised the Election Commission (EC), saying that that it has engaged the BNP-Jamaat men to prepare the voter list.

The defeated forces of the liberation war got the opportunity to rear its head again through killing Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil.

"If we now fail to resist the defeated forces, our future generation will no longer see a Bangladesh for which 30 lakh people scarified their lives," he said.

Jalil also called on the pro-liberation forces to be united to step up the anti-government movement.

"Today's militants are more organised than the militants of 1971 as they are now part of the ruling coalition," said AL joint secretary Obaidul Quader.

He called on the students as well as cultural activities to play a vital role in uprooting the militancy.

AL presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury and Motia Chowdhury, former Dhaka University vice-chancellor AK Azad Chowdhury, former Chittagong University vice-chancellor Prof Abdul Mannan and Barrister Tania Amir also spoke.