Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has announced that the upcoming national parliamentary election and a nationwide referendum will be held on the same day in the first half of February next year.
He made the announcement in a televised address to the nation on Thursday afternoon.
“The national referendum will be organized on the same day as the upcoming parliamentary election,” said Dr Yunus. “Holding both events together will not hinder the reform process in any way. Rather, it will make the election more festive and cost-effective.”
The Chief Adviser further said that necessary legislation will be enacted in due course to facilitate the referendum, which will feature four questions on the ballot.
The four issues to be put to vote are:
a. The caretaker government, Election Commission, and other constitutional bodies during the election period will be formed in line with the procedures outlined in the July Charter.
b. The next parliament will be bicameral. A 100-member upper house will be formed based on the proportion of votes each political party receives in the national election. Any constitutional amendment will require approval by a majority of the upper house.
c. The political reforms agreed upon by all major parties in the July Charter — including increasing women’s representation in parliament, appointing a deputy speaker and parliamentary committee chairs from the opposition, limiting the prime minister’s tenure, enhancing the president’s powers, expanding fundamental rights, ensuring judicial independence, and strengthening local government — will be mandatory for the winning parties to implement.
d. Other reforms detailed in the July Charter will also be implemented as per the commitments made by the political parties.
Dr Yunus said that voters will be asked a single question encompassing these four issues and will cast a “Yes” or “No” vote to express their opinion.
“If the majority votes ‘Yes’, a Constitutional Reform Council will be formed with the newly elected members of parliament,” he said. “The council will complete constitutional reforms within 180 working days of its first session. Within 30 working days after the reform, an upper house will be formed proportionate to the votes received by each party. Its term will last until the dissolution of the lower house.”
He added that measures will be taken to include the July Charter in the constitution as a commitment to national reform.
The address was broadcast live on Bangladesh Television (BTV), BTV News, and BTV World.
