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5h ago

Jamaat Demands Pre‑Election Referendum as Bangladesh Weighs Unilateral Move on Reform Charter

Bangladesh’s constitution lacks a routine referendum mechanism, forcing the interim government to weigh a unilateral path.

Supporters of Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami and seven allied political parties shout slogans during a rally to present their demands before the next general election, expected to be held in February, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Supporters of Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami and seven allied political parties attend a rally to present their demands before the next general election, expected to be held in February, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Supporters of Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami and seven allied political parties shout slogans during a rally to present their demands before the next general election, expected to be held in February, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Supporters of Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami and seven allied political parties shout slogans during a rally to present their demands before the next general election, expected to be held in February, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Overview

  • Jamaat-e-Islami and seven Islamist allies rallied in Dhaka, insisting no early‑2026 election can proceed unless a referendum first makes the July National Charter legally binding.
  • Interim advisers said the government will decide within days on implementing the charter and setting any referendum after a seven‑day consensus deadline expired.
  • The BNP, which signed the charter, opposes a pre‑election referendum, arguing the constitution provides no such provision and warning against unilateral steps by the interim cabinet.
  • The nonbinding July National Charter, drafted by the Yunus-led National Consensus Commission, proposes stronger checks and balances, expanded presidential authority, term limits, and anti‑corruption measures.
  • The political calculus is reshaped by the Awami League’s ban and Sheikh Hasina’s ongoing trial in exile, with a tribunal expected to set a verdict date on Thursday.