They are also demanding independence of the judiciary, rescinding of the rule on compulsory filing of income tax returns and trade licences, transparency in the appointment of judges and recruitment of efficient judges, among other issues.

Meanwhile, Convenor of the pro-government lawyers forum Ainjibi Oikya Parishad and Communic-ations Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda yesterday urged the agitating lawyers to call off their boycott.

Huda yesterday went to the Supreme Court and held a press conference at the Supreme Court Bar Association hall. He said the government has already stayed the amended CPC and there is no reason to boycott courts on the issue. If the lawyers still go ahead with the boycott programme, it would only be for political reasons.

Huda also said a roundtable would be held soon to seek expert opinions on the CPC to be followed by a 'grand' conference of lawyers in the last week of October.

Leaders of the boycotting lawyers yesterday intensified their countrywide campaign to prop up support from the 65 Bar associations.

Convenor of the Six-point Demand Implementation Committee and Vice-Chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council Barrister Amir-Ul Islam said, "We will not force anyone to boycott courts, but we appeal to their conscience. We received tremendous response from across the country and we believe our programme will be a success."

Earlier on August 6, lawyers under the banner of the committee stayed off courts across the country on same demands.