Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has played a calculated political hand, balancing competing demands as he announced that the referendum on the July Charter will be held on the same day as the next parliamentary election, with the proposed Upper House to be formed through proportional representation (PR) based on the votes received by each political party.
The decisions, disclosed in a televised address to the nation following a meeting of the Council of Advisers on Thursday, was both tactical and pragmatic. By accepting some proposals of the political parties while rejecting others, Yunus left them little room for outright rejection.
Neither BNP nor Jamaat-e-Islami, the two key players in the ongoing political contest, dismissed the decision. BNP accused the chief adviser of deviating from the spirit of the charter he had signed, while Jamaat warned that the move might trigger political complications. Yet both parties’ restrained tone suggested reluctant acceptance of the government’s final framework.
Political analysts say the decisions mark a turning point in the interim government’s efforts to stabilise the political scene ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, likely to be held in February 2026. The announcement could reduce uncertainty surrounding the reform process, though it also introduces new tensions, particularly around the proportional representation system.
For Jamaat and its allies, PR represents a major gain—a mechanism that could translate even modest electoral support into seats and influence in the Upper House. For BNP, however, it is a difficult compromise. The largest political party in Bangladesh now faces an internal debate over whether to oppose the system outright or accommodate it in the name of political continuity. A meeting of the BNP Standing Committee was underway Tuesday night to finalise the party’s stance.
Political observers caution that a hardline BNP response against the PR formula could start new political trouble over the July Charter implementation. Conversely, accepting would be a political difficult gamble.
The July Charter, signed on 17 October by 24 political parties including BNP and Jamaat, outlines the framework for sweeping political and constitutional reforms. It envisions a bicameral parliament, a more balanced distribution of power between the executive and the legislature, and mandatory commitments from all parties to implement a set of reform measures.
The National Consensus Commission, which submitted two alternative implementation plans on 28 October, had failed to bridge the gap between major parties’ positions. Yunus’s announcement, therefore, is seen as a decisive assertion of the interim government’s authority.
By synchronising the referendum with the general election, Yunus has reduced both logistical costs and the likelihood of prolonged political wrangling.
In his address, chief adviser said, “After due consideration, we have decided to hold the referendum on the day of the next national election. This will not in any way hinder the goals of reform. Rather, it will make the election more festive and cost-effective. Necessary legislation for the referendum will be enacted at an appropriate time.”
He said the Adviser Council approved the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025. Later, a gazette was issued in this regard.
Yunus said the referendum will be held on national election day, allowing people to cast their votes on four issues that were finalised in accordance with the July National Charter.
He said the question will be as follows: “Do you agree with the ‘July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025’ and the following reform proposals contained in the July National Charter?”
The first question is about formation of institutions, the caretaker government, Election Commission, and other constitutional bodies will be constituted in accordance with the procedures outlined in the July Charter.
The second one is on bicameral parliament – the next parliament will be bicameral, featuring an Upper House of 100 members allocated proportionally based on the votes received by each party in the national election. Any constitutional amendment will require the approval of a majority in the Upper House.
The third is reform obligations – political parties winning the next election will be required to implement 30 agreed reform proposals, including increasing women’s representation, electing the Deputy Speaker and parliamentary committee chairs from the opposition, limiting the Prime Minister’s tenure, expanding the President’s powers, strengthening judicial independence, and empowering local government.
The last question is on additional reforms outlined in the July Charter will be implemented in line with the commitments made by political parties.
Voters will cast a single ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ vote on these four proposals during the referendum. If the majority votes ‘Yes’, a Constitutional Reform Council will be formed, consisting of elected members of the next parliament.
The council will have 180 working days from its first session to finalise constitutional amendments. Within 30 working days of completing the reform, the Upper House will be constituted proportionally based on election results and will remain in place until the end of the Lower House’s term.
Yunus added that measures will be taken to incorporate the July Charter into the Constitution, as stipulated in the executive order approved earlier in the day.
Reflecting on the government’s performance since assuming office following the mass uprising, the Chief Adviser said rescuing the economy from a “deep abyss” had been a major challenge.
“In the past 15 months, we have managed to overcome that challenge,” he said. “All major economic indicators, including exports, foreign investment, and reserves, have returned to a positive trajectory. The looted banking sector has recovered, and public confidence has been restored. Several initiatives are underway to further strengthen the banking system.”
He noted that despite a global decline in investment, Bangladesh recorded a 19.13 per cent increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the first year after the uprising — “a remarkable achievement against global trends.”
