"It's the government's responsibility to make sure that there is a healthy atmosphere in the House where ruling and opposition lawmakers will discuss freely national issues in line with rules and procedures," Jalil said in an instant response to an appeal to join parliament by senior leader of the ruling BNP and Minister for Health and Family Welfare Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

Both the leaders were at a discussion at Teachers and Students Centre (TSC) roundabout of Dhaka University on the occasion of the 13th death anniversary of Shaheed Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, organised by Dr Milon Sangsad.

Dr Milon was gunned down on November 27, 1990 while leading an anti- government procession. His killing triggered a mass upsurge against HM Ershad's regime and compelled him to step down on December 6.

While addressing as chief guest Khandaker Mosharaf Hossain drew the attention of the AL general secretary and said, "Let's make parliamentary democracy in the country functional by joining the Jatiya Sangsad."

"The opposition can make allegations against the government in the House and co-operate with the government to make it a centre of debates on all national issues," he said with the hope that the AL lawmakers will join parliament.

Responding to the appeal Abdul Jalil said, "We have taken part in the elections for joining parliament, not for boycotting it."

He accused the treasury bench members of hurling abuses and delivering speeches in unparliamentary terms in the House against the opposition leaders and said that the atmosphere in the House is not congenial for the opposition to speak for the people.

On the recent emergence of a Third Force in country's political arena Khandaker Mosharaf Hossain said some quarters are conspiring against parliamentary democracy in the name of Third Force.

"No ulterior design of any quarter will succeed as people will not tolerate any conspiracy against democracy," he said.

The AL secretary general also made similar accusation, but did not name the Third Force.

Hasanul Haq Inu, president of a faction of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, said top leaders of big political parties have proved their incompetence in running the country democratically and now is the time for change.

He called for talks among the parties which acted jointly against the autocratic rule of president HM Ershad in the 1980s for what he said, to find ways to solve national problems, holding trials of the autocrat and the persons who opposed country's independence in 1971.

Dr Milon's mother Selina Akhter said had the killers of Milon and other political leaders been awarded exemplary punishments anarchy in the country would have diminished.

Presided over by Dr MA Mazed the programme was also addressed by Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof SMA Faiz, Bangladesh Medical Association leaders Prof AZM Zahid Hossain and Dr Ahmed Abu Saleh.