The country is now passing through a critical phase as crimes and corruption have taken deep root, said Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury.

People are passing their days in a state of insecurity amid increasing crimes and the situation is getting worse day by day because some politicians are harbouring the criminals, he said at the roundtable organised by the Centre for Studies in Social Transformation.

Only 10 percent people are now controlling everything of the country, said Professor Chowdhury.

"Politics has turned out to be a game for two major political parties," he said, adding that what is game for the BNP and the Awami League is death for people.

"Those whom we used to call autocrats are now playing a vital role in the politics," he said.

Journalist Kamal Lohani said politicians have failed to live up to the expectation of the people since independence.

"It is a shame for us as those who opposed the country's independence are now part of the government," he added.

Columnist Syed Abul Moksud, economist Anu Muhammad and language movement veteran Abdul Matin also spoke. Professor Ahmed Kamal of Dhaka University moderated the roundtable.