The July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025 has been issued through a gazette with a provision for holding the Jatiya Sangsad elections and the referendum on the July Charter the same day.
KEY REFORMS
- Four questions for referendum
- July charter inclusion in constitution
- PR for 100-member upper house
- Constitutional Reform Council with elected MPs
- 100 reserved seats for women in JS
- Dy speaker, some committee chairs from opposition
The interim government, at its advisory council meeting on Thursday, approved the order, after which chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced the contents of the order and the procedures for its implementation in a televised address to the nation.
He said that after a careful consideration the government had decided that the referendum would take place on the same day as the next parliamentary elections.
鈥楾his means that the referendum shall be held in the聽 first half of February like the national elections. This arrangement shall not hinder the reform process in any way. Rather, it will make the election more festive and cost-effective,鈥� the chief adviser said.
The referendum ballot, Professor Yunus said, shall contain a single question, covering four key proposals for voters to approve or reject.
Calling the consensus achieved through the charter a 鈥榟istoric milestone,鈥� Yunus聽 said that while minor differences remained on certain proposals the overall agreement among political parties on 30 major constitutional reform issues represented an exceptional national achievement.
Although there might appear divergence in political rhetoric, the chief adviser observed, a proper analysis of the July Charter would show that the differences are not so deep and this national consensus will give the nation the courage to move forward.
Although chief adviser Yunus in his address claimed that there was an overall agreement among the political parties on 30 major constitutional reform issues, the July National Charter 2025 published by the National Consensus Commission showed consensus among the parties on only 12 of these issues.
After the chief adviser鈥檚 address to the nation, president Md Shahabuddin issued the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025.
The order and the part of the July National Charter relating to constitutional reform -- for the purpose of exercising the sovereign power of the people -- shall be presented for a referendum, the order stated.
The question for the referendum would be 鈥楧o you give your consent to the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025 and the following constitutional reform proposals contained in the July Charter?鈥�
The four proposals are:
- a) During the election period, the caretaker government, the Election Commission, and other constitutional bodies shall be formed in accordance with the procedures contained in the July Charter.
- b) The next Jatiya Sangsad shall be bicameral. A 100-member upper house shall be formed based on the proportion of votes received by political parties in the JS elections. Any amendment to the constitution shall require the approval of a majority of the upper house.
- c) The winning political parties shall be obliged to implement the 30 agreed proposals included in the July Charter 鈥� covering issues such as increasing women鈥檚 representation in parliament, electing the deputy speaker and parliamentary committee chairpersons from the opposition, limiting the prime minister鈥檚 term, strengthening the president鈥檚 powers, expanding fundamental rights, ensuring judicial independence, and enhancing local government.
- d) Other reforms contained in the July Charter shall be implemented in line with the commitments made by the political parties.
On the referendum day, voters will express their opinion on these four matters by voting either 鈥榊es鈥� or 鈥楴o鈥� to the single question on the ballot.
Appropriate legislation shall be enacted to enable the Election Commission to take necessary measures to hold the referendum, the order said.
If a majority votes 鈥榊es鈥�, a Constitutional Reform Council shall be formed, consisting of elected members from the new parliament, it also said.
As per the order, the council shall function concurrently with the Jatiya Sangsad and shall be tasked with finalising the constitutional reforms within the 180 working days from its first sitting.
Within the 30 working days of completing the reforms, an upper house shall be formed based on the share of votes received by political parties, with its tenure lasting until the end of the lower house鈥檚 term.
Regarding the formation of the Constitutional Reform Council, the order said, the council shall be formed comprising representatives elected in the general elections to the Jatiya Sangsad, and it shall have full authority over matters relating to constitutional reform.
The representatives elected in the elections shall serve concurrently as members of the Jatiya Sangsad and as members of the Constitutional Reform Council under this order.
During the participation in the proceedings of the council, the elected representatives shall be referred to as council members.
The council shall determine its own procedures regarding the convening and adjournment of sessions, the manner of introducing proposals on constitutional reform, the consideration and adoption of such proposals, and all other related matters.
The Jatiya Sangsad secretariat shall provide secretarial support to the council, the order said.
It also said that after taking the oath as JS members, the elected representatives shall, at the same ceremony, take the oath as members of the council and shall sign the corresponding oath document.
The person administering the oath to the Members of Parliament elected in the JS elections shall also administer the oath to the members of the council.
In line with the July Charter pledge, provisions shall be made to incorporate the July National Charter into the constitution, it further said.
According to the order, the constitutional reforms adopted by the council shall be final and no further approval or consent in any form shall be required regarding such reforms.
