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Bangladesh’s army personnel stand guard at the International Crimes Tribunals premises in Dhaka. Bangladeshi judges will issue the hugely anticipated verdict in the crimes against humanity trial of fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on November 17, the chief prosecutor said. Photo: AFP
DHAKA:
Bangladesh will hold a national referendum on implementing its ‘July Charter’ for state reform, drafted after last year’s deadly student-led uprising, Muhammad Yunus, head of the interim government, said on Thursday.
Yunus reiterated that parliamentary elections will be held in the first half of February and assured they would be free and fair.
The interim government approved the July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order 2025 on Thursday, to be implemented depending on the referendum outcome.
“We have decided that the referendum will be held on the same day as the national parliamentary election,” Yunus said in a televised address. “This will make the election more festive and cost-efficient.”
The charter seeks to reshape the country’s politics and institutions, give constitutional recognition to the 2024 uprising that forced long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee, increase women’s representation, limit the prime minister’s term, strengthen presidential powers, expand fundamental rights, and ensure judicial independence.
While most political parties signed the charter in October, the National Citizens Party and four left-leaning groups boycotted it, citing lack of a legal framework for implementation. REUTERS
