DHAKA: Bangladesh will hold a national referendum on implementing its ‘July Charter’ for state reform, interim government head Muhammad Yunus announced on Thursday. The landmark move follows last year’s deadly student-led uprising that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India.
Yunus confirmed that parliamentary elections will take place in February, assuring that the polls would be free and fair. He described the referendum as a crucial step toward rebuilding the country’s political and institutional framework.
Read More: Bangladesh cricket probes sexual harassment claims
The July Charter, introduced earlier this year, aims to reshape Bangladesh’s governance structure and provide constitutional recognition to the 2024 uprising, which marked a turning point in the nation’s political history.
While most major political parties endorsed the document in October, the National Citizens Party (NCP) — formed by the leaders of last year’s movement — and four left-leaning parties boycotted it. The NCP argued that the charter lacked a legal mechanism or binding guarantees for implementation.
Read More: Bangladesh to announce verdict in Hasina crimes against humanity
Supporters have hailed the initiative as a foundation for institutional reform, but critics warn that without parliamentary consensus or legal backing, its impact could remain largely symbolic.