Bangladesh Holds Historic Referendum on Sweeping Democratic Reforms Following July Uprising

Dhaka. Bangladesh is set to vote on Thursday in a historic referendum on sweeping democratic reforms, coinciding with its first parliamentary election since the mass uprising of 2024 that ended Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule.

The reform proposal presented by the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has been named the 'July Charter.' The 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate stated that this charter is designed to prevent the possibility of reverting to an autocratic one-party rule in the future.

The charter includes proposals to set term limits for the Prime Minister, make Parliament bicameral by forming an upper house of 100 seats based on national votes, strengthen the powers of the President, and consolidate the independence of the judiciary. Furthermore, it proposes increasing female representation in parliament and selecting the Deputy Speaker and chairpersons of parliamentary committees from the opposition parties.

Voters have been asked to cast their ballots on whether to approve or reject these constitutional, electoral, and institutional reforms. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has interpreted this as a significant turning point for Bangladesh's democratic and constitutional system.

Yunus, who has announced his intention to step down after the vote, wishes to make the charter the main achievement of his caretaker administration. He stated that a 'Yes' vote will open the door to building a new Bangladesh.

The former ruling Awami League has been barred from participating in the electoral process. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed from the student movement, have supported a 'Yes' vote. However, some parties have expressed disagreement with certain provisions of the charter.

Due to the support from major parties, the referendum is expected to pass. However, there appears to be insufficient public awareness regarding the proposal. According to a survey conducted by the Centre for Policy Research at IID in Dhaka, only 37 percent of voters are aware of the charter's contents, and this figure is limited to eight percent among those with no formal education.

IID commented that the reform process has been confined behind closed doors, noting a lack of sufficient public engagement for an informed and inclusive referendum. If passed by a simple majority, the referendum's decision will be binding on the parties winning the election. However, ratification by the new parliament will still be required for implementation.