BNP, the largest political entity in the country in the absence of Awami League, has adopted a carefully balanced position on the upcoming referendum on state reforms, stopping short of openly campaigning either for or against it.
While the party has publicly reaffirmed its long-standing support for reforms, it has avoided active campaigning for a “Yes” vote in the referendum. At the same time, as a signatory to the July Charter, it has also refrained from taking a firm stand in favour of a “No” vote.
Political observers describe this approach as a strategic effort to navigate competing pressures.
BNP leaders at both grassroots and central levels say the party’s restraint is deliberate. Several political groups opposed to the interim government — including the activity banned Awami League — have rejected the referendum, particularly the “Yes” option. Analysts believe BNP is seeking to avoid alienating voters aligned with those parties by remaining publicly neutral.
Senior BNP figures insist the party is not opposed to reforms or to a “Yes” vote in principle. Some leaders respond ambiguously when questioned publicly, while others privately express sympathy for a “No” position but stop short of stating it openly. A number of senior leaders, however, have publicly backed a “Yes” vote.
Party insiders say the implementation of the July Charter could strengthen the position of some senior BNP leaders within the party. If BNP were to win the election and its chairman, Tarique Rahman, became prime minister, it could open up new leadership arrangements, including alternative pathways for senior figures or parliamentary roles in the upper house for leaders who were denied nominations. These prospects have prompted some top leaders to speak in favour of a “Yes” vote.
Despite this, BNP sources acknowledge that most grassroots leaders, activists and a significant portion of its support base are not in favour of voting “Yes” in the referendum. BNP did, however, agree with other political parties on several reform issues during meetings of now defunct National Consensus Commission. Although it submitted notes of dissent on some points, the party ultimately did not strict on its objections and avoided confrontation in the interest of holding the national election.
Public concern has also grown over the plan to hold the referendum on the same day as the parliamentary election scheduled for 12 February, a first in Bangladesh. Critics warn that running both polls simultaneously could pose major administrative and logistical challenges. Others argue that the wording of the referendum questions is overly complex. Although there are four questions, voters can choose only one answer “Yes” or “No” raising fears that many voters may struggle to make an informed decision within a limited time.
Meanwhile, the interim government has launched a nationwide campaign urging voters to support the “Yes” option. Government representatives have been going door to door, and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has personally taken part in the campaign. Officials say there is no risk of a “No” victory and that campaigning will intensify over the next four weeks. Several political parties have also joined efforts to mobilise support for a “Yes” vote.
At least eight parties — including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party, Islami Andolan, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gonoshanghati Andolon and AB Party have publicly endorsed a “Yes” vote. These groups had long demanded a referendum before national election and later agreed to holding both on the same day. They have already begun campaigning across the country.
Supporters of the referendum say a “Yes” vote is essential to implement the July Charter. They argue that the July mass uprising was driven by aspirations for a “new Bangladesh” and that the referendum is needed to secure public approval for constitutional amendments required to enforce the “July National Charter Implementation Order 2025”.
NCP convener Nahid Islam said on Tuesday that parties backing a “No” vote would fail in the parliamentary election. He said his party was campaigning for a “Yes” vote to give the July Charter a legal foundation and claimed the public was ready to support it.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told TIMES of Bangladesh that the parliamentary reforms included in the referendum had already been presented by BNP in its 31-point reform proposals in 2016 and 2023. He said BNP had always supported reforms, describing them as an ongoing process and a core part of the party’s political philosophy, adding that there was no reason to oppose them.
Outside BNP, Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque called on voters across party lines to support a “Yes” vote, warning that failure to do so could jeopardise the July uprising, July Charter and Bangladesh’s democratic transition. He described the referendum as a historic moment that would shape the country’s future state structure.
Ali Riaz, former vice-chairman of National Consensus Commission and chief adviser’s special assistant, said he saw no possibility of a “No” victory. He argued that the public supported change and did not want a return to authoritarian rule, adding that the government had received strong responses to its campaign in Rajshahi and Barishal. State reforms, he said, remained the interim government’s central objective, with 11 reform commissions formed and the July Charter drafted based on their recommendations.
