Amid the escalating political tensions ahead of next year’s general election, Bangladesh’s National Citizens Party (NCP) has issued a stark warning — pledging readiness for either a “ballot revolution” or a “bullet revolution,” depending on the nation’s political trajectory.
Speaking at a discussion held at the party’s youth headquarters in Dhaka, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said, “If Bangladesh continues on the democratic path, NCP is ready for a ballot revolution. But if blood must be shed, we are ready for a bullet revolution too,” reports Daily Star.
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Patwary also lashed out at the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — now the country’s largest political force following the ban on Awami League — warning it could meet a fate similar to the ousted ruling party if it obstructed the ongoing reform process.
He accused leftist groups of betraying their founding principles, calling them “vote banks” for the BNP within the so-called Consensus Commission. “They have sold their ideals for a few seats,” Patwary said, adding that the left’s red flag had become a mere “political façade.”
Taking an indirect jab at the hardline religious party – the Jamaat-e-Islami, Patwary declared that the NCP rejects religion-based politics: “We do not believe in politics that exploit religion for votes — like adding a few words to the constitution or visiting madrasas for photo ops.”
Meanwhile, NCP Joint Convener Sarwar Tushar accused both the BNP and Jamaat of obstructing institutional reforms, arguing that they prioritise political advantage over national progress. He criticised the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government for its “inaction” following the publication of the July Charter, saying neutrality had turned into paralysis.
“After preparing a roadmap for the July Charter, the government didn’t need to hand it over to political parties,” Tushar said. “Neutrality does not mean inaction, but the government has become inactive.”
Tushar announced that the NCP plans to form its own “Reform Alliance” ahead of the 2026 general election, saying the process was already underway. He urged citizens to “vote for reform over party loyalty,” declaring, “Whether you wear the scale (symbol of Jamaat-e-Islami) or the sheaf of paddy (symbol of BNP) badge, in the polling booth, vote for reform.”
The NCP last week accused certain members of the interim government of attempting to sabotage the February 2026 polls, claiming officials had shifted responsibility for implementing the July Charter — including the referendum — onto political parties.
“We see a tendency to derail both the reform process and the election,” NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain said during a press conference, as quoted by BSS.
The growing friction between the BNP, Jamaat, and the NCP — once united in their backing of the interim government — now signals a sharp escalation in Bangladesh’s political volatility.
The widening rift could plunge the country into deeper turmoil, as former allies of the Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’s regime turn against each other amid competing reform agendas and an increasingly uncertain road to the 2026 polls.