They alleged that the government is trying to execute the death sentences of the seven top militants hurriedly within its tenure only to save their patrons.

The South Asian People's Union against Fundamentalism & Communalism and Forum for Secular Bangladesh organised the press conference at the National Press Club in the city.

The BNP-Jamaat alliance government is afraid that if it does not execute the militants, they would reveal the names of their patrons who are in the government, said said Union General Secretary Shahriar Kabir.

It is not possible for only a few illiterate and half-educated people to build such a huge network without the patronisation of the government and the administration, he added.

He also reiterated the demand that the government make public the sources of financial and arms supplies to the militants.

If the government really wants to curb militancy, it should allow the militants to speak with the media to reveal who are patronising them as they committed crimes against the state, Kabir said in a written statement.

He also demanded that the information the militant leaders gave to the intelligence agencies is made public through the media.

"We don't think that secular and democracy-loving people will be safe and militancy will be rooted out if only seven condemned militants are executed. We want their executions, but let them speak with the media," he said.

Referring to the militants' statements, Kabir said they admitted their involvement in the attacks on poet Shamsur Rahman, British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury, Udichi, Chhayanaut, CPB rally at Paltan, Awami League rally on August 21 and in Baniarchar Church and Kotalipara.

They have more than one lakh workers whose targets are some leading political leaders and intellectuals, he added.

Kabir, also acting president of the Forum for Secular Bangladesh, said the country saw an alarming rise in militancy after the BNP-Jamaat alliance government assumed the office. More than 100 militant organisations are now active in the country, he noted.

Asked about the law minister's remarks that the executions cannot be carried out during Ramadan, Prof Kabir Chowdhury said such remarks are aimed at creating confusion among people.

"There is no law that death sentences cannot be executed during Ramadan," he said.

On the armed attacks on Prof Dr Aftab Chowdhury, Prof Kabir Chowdhury said the way he was attacked is alarming for the intellectuals of the country. "We must protest it."

Prof Muntasir Mamun, Ajoy Roy and poet Syed Shamsul Haque were also present at the press conference.