This was confirmed yesterday when the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) announced a new date for the inaugural Professional Football League. After a series of delays, the Pro League's new launching date is January 13 but it looks suspect as it is just a week before the schedule of the general election.

The league was scheduled to begin on December 21 but the BFF postponed the November 15-December 31 transfer due to the countrywide blockade, which resulted in deferring the league further.

In spite of the threat of another blockade from this week, the BFF has planned to hold the transfer from December 5 to January 31.

"Even if the blockade continues, we will start the transfer. We had decided to see the situation and now we feel that the blockade would not hamper the transfer," opined BFF general secretary Anwarul Hoque Helal yesterday.

When asked if they had the consent of the clubs, Helal informed that he expected the participators to honour the latest decision of the federation.

"As far as I know, all the clubs have completed their preparation and won't object.

"We have set the new date just after the Eidul Azha holidays. I know the election is due in January but it would hardly stop one week's fixture.

The footballers, however, are not certain that the BFF would be able to fulfil its commitment this time.

And they have decided to protest BFF's apathy by staging a sit-in programme this afternoon at the BFF Bhaban. Current and former footballers are expected to take part in the protest.

"Why didn't they start the transfer on schedule, showing excuses of the blockade? They are now announcing the transfer date during blockade. It is silly," criticised a national footballer.

"The National Cricket League is going on smoothly. No one would try to disrupt sports during political programmes. So the BFF should take all the responsibility," he added.

Not only the federation, but also the clubs should be blamed because they pressed to delay the transfer in demand of completion of the renovation works of the Bangabandhu Stadium although they knew it would be ready by November.

Had they agreed to go for the transfer in October, the league could have easily been started by December. They were also reminded of the possible political unrest in December but played a deaf ear to the appeals of the players, who had their last transfer almost two years ago.

The last leagues (Dhaka Premier League and National Football league) were held in 2005, meaning football would return after a near 16-month gap.