They vowed to establish a non-communal, truly democratic, and poverty-free nation by driving out all the evil forces that are spreading out militancy and religious fundamentalism in the country.

Marking the 35th black night, they lit 35 torches, which were used to light several hundred candles that the participants held while marching from the Central Shaheed Minar to the killing ground of Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University.

Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organised the programme as it has been doing for the last 13 years in a spirit to resist the local collaborators of the Pakistani occupation army who killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people during the Liberation War.

Presiding over a brief discussion before the candlelight rally, Prof Kabir Chowdhury said there is now attempt to destroy the spirit of the Liberation War.

"We must not fear to wage a movement to uproot the evil forces who suppress the distressed and shelter those who patronise militancy and religious fundamentalism," Prof Chowdhury said.

Journalist Shahrier Kabir moderated the discussion also addressed by former air chief AK Khandker Bir Uttam, Major General (retd) KM Shafiullah Bir Uttam, AL leaders Abdur Razzak MP, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Chairman Abdul Ahad Chowdhury, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum President advocate Promod Mankin, Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad General Secretary Neem Chandra Bhowmik, Protiti Devi, daughter-in-law of martyr Dhirendranath Dutta, Shyamoli Nasreen Chowdhury, wife of martyr Dr Alim Chowdhury, and journalist Shaheen Reza Noor.