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Bangladesh Sets Single‑Question Charter Referendum to Coincide With February Parliamentary Election

The bundled vote will serve as a single up‑or‑down mandate on four grouped reforms.

Overview

  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced in a televised address that the referendum will be held the same day as the national election in the first half of February, with the ballot wording finalized for a single yes or no vote.
  • The question seeks approval of the July National Charter (Constitution Amendment) Implementation Order, 2025, consolidating institutional, electoral, bicameral, and implementation commitments into one decision.
  • Proposals include a caretaker‑style mechanism and an independent Election Commission, 30 binding reforms such as women’s representation, prime ministerial term limits, judicial independence, stronger local governance, and opposition leadership of key committees.
  • The charter would create a bicameral legislature with a 100‑member upper house allocated by party vote share, and future constitutional amendments would require a majority in that upper chamber.
  • If approved, newly elected MPs would form a Constitutional Reform Council to complete amendments within 180 working days, with the upper house constituted within 30 working days afterward amid continuing political divisions and calls from Yunus for unity.