DHAKA — Bangladesh will hold a referendum on four issues to implement the July Charter, with voters choosing yes or no on constitutional reforms, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said Thursday. The referendum will take place on the same day as the next parliamentary election.
Yunus announced the plan in a televised address to the nation Thursday afternoon. All four questions relate to constitutional reform, he said.
“I am now reading out the question for you,” Yunus said. The question will read: “Do you give your consent to the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025 and the following proposals related to constitutional reform set out in the July National Charter?”
(a) During the election period, the caretaker government, the Election Commission and other constitutional institutions will be formed in line with the process described in the July Charter.
(b) The next parliament will be bicameral. An upper house of 100 members will be formed in proportion to the votes received by the parties in the parliamentary election, and amending the constitution will require approval from a majority of upper house members.
(c) The 30 proposals on which political parties have reached consensus in the July National Charter—including increasing women’s representation in parliament, electing the deputy speaker and parliamentary committee chairs from the opposition, limiting the prime minister’s tenure, expanding presidential powers, broadening fundamental rights, strengthening the independence of the judiciary and local government—will be binding on the winning parties in the next election to implement.
(d) Other reforms described in the July Charter will be implemented in accordance with the political parties’ commitments.
On referendum day, voters will give their opinion by voting “yes” or “no” on a single question covering these four issues.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report