National Citizens Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary on Thursday called upon the interim government to hold the national election by February, warning that failure to do so could push the country towards a civil war.

Speaking at a discussion titled “The Current and Future Roadmap of Politics” at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Thursday (30 October), Patwary urged the Chief Adviser to take swift and decisive steps to prevent political instability.

The country is heading towards a critical situation. Announce the election by February. If you fail to do so and a civil war-like situation emerges, the responsibility will fall squarely on your shoulders,” he said.

The NCP leader also demanded that the draft recommendations of the Reform Commission be made public.

The Reform Commission has already submitted its proposals. The ball is now in Dr Yunus’s court. He is regarded as an international player. It is often said that foreign players slip on Bangladesh’s pitch, but here, our legal adviser makes it even more slippery. He seems intent on making politicians fall,” Patwary said, adding that the NCP would sign the proposal only after the draft is disclosed to the public.

Patwary said, “We cannot push Bangladesh’s future into uncertainty. The debate over whether the referendum should come before or after the election is nothing but a false argument raised by Jamaat and the BNP. They must move beyond such rhetoric and assist the Election Commission.”

Commenting on the BNP’s political stance, he said, “The BNP was born through a ‘Yes’ vote. If it insists on the ‘No’ vote now, its end will also come through the ‘No’ vote. The BNP is a major political force, and we urge them not to script their political demise through obstinacy.”

Addressing Jamaat-e-Islami, Patwary alleged that the party has been creating confusion regarding the proposed upper and lower houses of parliament. “On the question of referendum, Jamaat will eventually unite with the BNP. The two parties are engaging in baseless arguments,” he remarked.