Dhaka, Aug. 28 -- National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has said his party is prepared to contest the next national election in February, provided the legal framework of the July Charter is enacted. He warned that bypassing essential reforms would cast doubt on the credibility of the polls.

"Skipping reforms will make the election questionable. NCP wants both a Constituent Assembly and a legislature through the legal basis of the July Charter.

The sooner that legal foundation is completed, the sooner we can move toward elections," Nahid told reporters on Tuesday night before departing for a five-day visit to China.

His remarks came just hours after the Election Commission announced that it had approved the roadmap for the 1...