Advisory Council approves referendum ordinance

The Advisory Council of the interim government has given both policy-level and final approval to the draft Referendum Ordinance 2025.

The approval came today (25 November) during a meeting chaired by Chief Adviser (CA) Muhammad Yunus at his office in Dhaka, according to meeting sources.

Following the decision, the CA's Press Wing announced that a press briefing will be held at the Foreign Service Academy at 4pm today. Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul is expected to brief journalists.

Earlier, on 13 November, the chief adviser announced in a national address that a referendum would be held alongside the national election scheduled for the first half of February next year.

Voters will cast a "Yes" or "No" vote on a single question covering four collective constitutional reform proposals derived from the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Order 2025 and constitutional reform proposals included in the July Charter.

The referendum ballot will present one comprehensive question to voters: "Do you approve the implementation of the July National Charter [Constitutional Reform] Ordinance, 2025, and the following reform proposals recorded in the July National Charter?" (Yes/No).

The single vote will simultaneously determine public opinion on four key proposals:

• The caretaker government, the Election Commission, and other constitutional bodies will be formed according to procedures outlined in the July Charter.
• The next National Parliament will be bicameral. A 100-member upper house will be formed in proportion to the votes obtained by political parties in the national election, and constitutional amendments will require the approval of a majority in the upper house.
• Political parties have reached consensus on 30 reform proposals in the July Charter, covering increased women's representation in parliament, electing the deputy speaker and parliamentary committee chairs from the opposition, limiting the prime minister's tenure, enhancing presidential powers, expanding fundamental rights, ensuring judicial independence, and strengthening local government. Winning parties in the upcoming election will be obliged to implement these reforms.
• Other reforms outlined in the July Charter will be implemented in line with political party commitments.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said that if a majority of voters cast a "Yes" vote, a Constitutional Reform Council will be formed, composed of representatives elected in the upcoming parliamentary election, who will also serve as members of parliament.

The council will be tasked with completing the constitutional reforms within 180 working days from its first parliamentary session. This mandate is included in the approved implementation order.

The government published the gazette of the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025 on 13 November. 

The Order mandates a referendum on the Charter's constitutional reform provisions "to exercise the sovereign power of the people". It states that the referendum will be held on the day of the national election.

The charter envisions a bicameral parliament with a 100-member upper house representing political parties proportionally based on their vote share.

The Order includes 30 reform proposals, such as limiting the prime minister's tenure, empowering the president, electing the deputy speaker from the opposition, and increasing women's representation in parliament, all of which must be implemented by whichever parties win the upcoming election.

The referendum will be conducted by secret ballot.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin recently confirmed that the government has asked the Election Commission to organise both the referendum and the national election.

He said on 22 November that preparations would begin once the necessary legislation is enacted.

Prior to the gazette, the interim government had urged all political parties to reach a consensus on the referendum and give their decision.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said that political parties have not reached an agreement on many reforms and still differ on when the referendum should be held and what it should include.

The BNP and some political parties have supported the idea of holding the national election and the referendum on the same day, while Jamaat-e-Islami and several others have voiced opposition.