Advisory Council approves referendum ordinance; gazette today

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

The approval came yesterday (25 November) during a meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at his office in Dhaka.

The gazette notification on the draft Referendum Ordinance will be published by today, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy.

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.

Referendum ballots will be printed in different colours to make the voting process easier for voters, Asif Nazrul said at the presser.

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.

The law adviser noted that the referendum will take place on the same day as the national election, with a separate ballot system at each polling centre. "This will allow voters to cast two significant votes on the same day."

He also said that the introduction of postal ballots will enable those unable to attend polling stations due to professional or personal reasons to exercise their constitutional rights.

"The government is preparing a large-scale awareness campaign on the referendum, with the Election Commission, culture ministry, information ministry and the Chief Adviser's Press Wing working jointly," Asif Nazrul said.

The campaign will aim to inform citizens about the referendum process, its importance, and how to use postal ballots, he added.

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.