The leaders made the call at a mass dialogue held at Narayanganj Press Club as part of a process they initiated to formulate a 'people's manifesto'.

The dialogue ended peacefully amid tight security inside and outside the press club. Police using metal detector checked each participant in the dialogue.

People belonging to various professions took part in the dialogue and expressed their resentment over price spiral of essentials, rising corruption, increasing unemployment and deteriorating law and order.

Earlier in October and November, two such mass dialogues in Rangpur and Mymensingh were foiled by activists allegedly belonging to the ruling BNP.

Badruddoza yesterday said successive governments ruled the country ignoring people's voice. "We want to formulate a people's manifesto on the basis of suggestions from people," he said.

Criticising the government 'bid to foil' the BDB-Oikya Mancha movement, the former president said this showed the rulers got scared of the 'success of our mass dialogue programme."

He also alleged the coalition government did not allow the BDB to hold any public rally in the capital since its formation.

Referring to 'crossfire' incidents as stated by Rapid Action Battalion, the BDB president said, "Killing of some criminals will not improve the situation, rather, godfathers of the criminals have to be rooted out."

Responding to a question on a persisting debate about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and late president Ziaur Rahman, the BDB chief said, when he was in the BNP, he never showed disrespect to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Dr Kamal Hossain said people are now hostage to corruption and criminal activities. The prevailing politics breeds corruption and criminal activities pushing the country to a vulnerable state, said Dr Kamal, also president of the Gono Forum.

People have to forge unity to contain corruption and criminal activities, he stressed.

The Oikya Mancha convenor also criticised successive governments for not taking effective steps to resolve unemployment problem.

"The country does not belong to any individual or any particular group, rather the masses own the country. This is why a people's manifesto is necessary for the country," said Dr Kamal

Replying to a question he said, "Get united against MPs who don't attend parliament sessions but remain busy with other activities."

Mohammed Mostafa, a businessman present at the dialogue, said the government is indifferent to skyrocketing prices of essentials.

Abul Hossain, a garment worker, alleged their employers harass them at their workplace and deprive them of their basic rights.

Several discussants blamed a section of politicians for harbouring criminals.

The government should first take action against godfathers and then it should go for action against other criminals, said Mohammed Mahiuddin, a student.

Mohammad Shamsul Haque, Narayanganj district convenor of Oikya Mancha, chaired the mass dialogue. Leaders present included Gono Forum General Secretary Saifuddin Ahmed Manik, BDB Secretary General Abdul Mannan, Organising Secretary Mahi B Chowdhury MP and Joint Secretary Firoz M Hasan, BDB Narayanganj district unit leader ATM Kamal and Oikya Mancha leaders Mostafa Mohsin Montu, Samsuzzoha, Mafizul Islam Kamal and Abdur Rouf.