Bangladesh will hold a national referendum on implementing its “July Charter” for state reforms, announced interim government head and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Thursday. The referendum will take place on the same day as the national parliamentary elections, scheduled for the first half of February 2025.
During a televised address, Yunus said the cabinet had approved the July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order 2025, emphasizing that the decision would both enhance voter participation and reduce costs.
“This referendum will coincide with the election, making the event more festive, democratic, and efficient,” Yunus stated.
The July Charter, introduced after the 2024 student-led uprising that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India, aims to reshape Bangladesh’s political and constitutional framework. Key reforms include:
- Expanding women’s representation in politics
- Limiting the prime minister’s tenure
- Enhancing presidential powers
- Ensuring judicial independence
- Strengthening fundamental rights
—alongWhile most major political parties endorsed the charter in October, the National Citizens Party (NCP)—formed by leaders of the 2024 uprising — along with several leftist groups, boycotted the agreement. The NCP criticized the move for lacking a legal structure to guarantee that the proposed reforms would actually be implemented.
Supporters see the charter as a historic step toward institutional reform, while critics warn it could remain symbolic without solid legal backing or parliamentary approval.
—a“I urge all political parties to unite for the nation’s future,” Yunus said. “Bangladesh is ready to step into a new era — a **‘New Bangladesh.’”
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