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Bangladesh Sets One-Week Deadline on July Charter Referendum After Party Split

The advisory council signaled it will act alone if talks fail, intensifying disputes over who can issue the implementing order.

Muhammad Yunus (front C), Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's Interim Government and Head of the National Consensus Commission, claps as representatives of various political parties hold the July National Charter at the South Plaza of the National Parliament in Dhaka on October 17, 2025. Bangladesh's most powerful political parties signed a charter on�October 17 aimed at ensuring democratic reform after next year's elections, following a mass uprising that toppled the previous government. (Photo by Munir UZ ZAMAN / AFP)

Overview

  • Law adviser Asif Nazrul urged parties to agree within a week on the referendum’s timing and scope following an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
  • Officials warned the interim government will decide unilaterally if no consensus emerges, escalating a standoff over legal authority.
  • Parties remain divided on timing: the BNP prefers holding the vote on election day, Jamaat seeks a November timeline, and the NCP accepts either but focuses on who signs the order.
  • The NCP accused elements of the interim administration of trying to derail the February 2026 polls and demanded an executive order to fully implement the July Charter.
  • Disagreements also center on the Consensus Commission’s blueprint to implement first and then seek public approval, with a 270‑day automatic constitutional amendment if an elected government does not act.