Deferment of Jan 5 polls demanded

A total of 1,001 pro-opposition journalists yesterday demanded that the government defer the January 5 parliamentary polls.
In a joint statement, signed by Abdul Hai Sikdar, the journalists said the country is at a political impasse over the 10th parliamentary polls, yet the government is desperate to hold the “one-sided farcical” election, according to our staff correspondent.
Already 153 candidates have been elected uncontested, while elections at the remaining 147 constituencies are apparently being held without a tight contest, said the statement.
Riazuddin Ahmed, Abul Asad, Alamgir Mahiuddin, Ruhul Amin Gazi, Shawkat Mahmud and Amanullah Kabir are among the signatories.     
President of Gonoforum Dr Kamal Hossain and its General Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu also demanded postponement of the January 5 election.
In a statement issued yesterday, the two Gonoforum leaders urged all parties to hold dialogue among themselves and intellectuals to reach a consensus ending the political crises.
“The country's education, trade, commerce and economy will suffer further,” it added.     
Meanwhile, speakers at a roundtable at Rajshahi University also demanded deferment of the election, according to our RU correspondent.   
Terming the election farcical, they said the country might face a civil war if it is held.

The roundtable titled “Farcical Election and Endangered Democracy” was organised by Sachetan Shikkhak Samaj.
If the January 5 election is held, violence will escalate and the economy, which is already affected badly, will be further hurt in the next few days, they observed.
Columnist Ebne Golam Samad, Advocate Rawshan Ara, Doctors Association of Bangladesh Vice President Dr Wasim Hossain and RU teachers Prof Faisul Islam Faruki, Prof Rafiqul Islam and Prof Azhar Ali, among others, spoke.