They said the real heroes have detached themselves from the mainstream due to lack of honour while the defeated forces reunited and captured most of the government, semi-government and non-government sectors taking the opportunity.

The discussion was organised by Samaj Adhayan Kendra at the Liberation War Museum auditorium in the city to mark the 35th anniversary of 'Glorious liberation war in the diplomatic front'.

Former diplomat KM Shehabuddin who was the first to resign from the then Pakistan High Commission and cut off all relations with Pakistan government on April 6 in 1971 protesting the repression on innocent Bangalees by the occupation forces.

Following his glorious decision, diplomats Hossain Ali, RI Chowdhury, AH Mahmud Ali, Enayet Karim, SAMS Kibria, AMA Muhit, Mahiduddin Ahmed, AFM Abdul Fateh, KK Panni and Mostafizur Rahman resigned from their posts and supported the freedom fighters in various ways during the nine-month-long liberation war.

Barrister Amir-ul Islam, president of Supreme Court Bar Association, said fundamentalists have staged a dramatic come back and captured all sectors under the shelter of BNP-led alliance government.

" Now the defeated forces are conspiring to distort the history of the liberation war while the real heroes of the nation are being deprived of their due rights and honour," he added.

Dr Anisuzzaman said the resignation of KM Shehabuddin was a historic decision because this protest took place before the formation of Bangladesh government on April 10 in 1971.

Awami League leader and former state minister for information Prof Abu Sayeed, former Chittagong University vice-chancellor Abdul Mannan, former secretary Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, Dr Salimullah Khan and Chittagong Samity President Abu Alam Chowdhury also took part in the discussion.