The July National Charter outlines a transparent and structured process for appointing the chief adviser, barring the ways for the president to adorn the post at any circumstances.
The charter has a provision that a five-member selection committee, comprising prime minister, leader of the opposition, speaker, deputy speaker from the opposition, and a representative from the second-largest opposition party will be formed to select the chief adviser.
This committee will invite political parties and independent lawmakers to propose each name of eligible candidates for the post of chief adviser within 24 hours.
The committee will also be able to propose names for the post of chief adviser and must select an individual within 72 hours, reads the charter.
If consensus is not achieved within 120 hours, judicial representatives join the committee, and the final selection will be determined via ranked-choice voting.
In contrast, under the system that was brought back by the Supreme Court on Thursday, the president appoints the chief adviser, prioritising the most recently retired chief justice or other retired chief justices, or qualified citizens after consulting major political parties. If no suitable candidate is found, the president himself assumes the role.
As per the July Charter, the tenure has also been updated. It mandates that the chief adviser’s initial tenure cannot exceed 90 days. But it will get 30 more days due to unavoidable situation.
After Thursday’s court ruling, the Constitution will limit the chief adviser’s tenure to 90 days during which general elections must be held.
The charter also raises the maximum age limit to 75 years from 72.
The size of the Advisory Council has been expanded under the charter. There will be maximum 15 advisers, and all will be appointed by the president.
Under the framework of July National Charter, general elections must be held within 90 days after the dissolution of parliament, whether the dissolution occurs due to the expiration of its term or other reasons.
The caretaker government will operate under the constitutional framework until the newly elected government assumes office.
The caretaker government will automatically be dissolved on the day the newly elected prime minister assumes office.
On October 17, 2025, the National Consensus Commission and 24 political parties of Bangladesh formally signed the agreement at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. On October 28, the commission submitted its recommendation to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna, in the presence of Advisory Council members.
Later, on November 13, 2025, the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs issued the “July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025.”
