Bangladesh is holding its first parliamentary elections since the 2024 uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, alongside a historic referendum on broad democratic reforms. The interim government, led by 85-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has proposed the “July Charter,” a comprehensive reform package aimed at preventing a return to autocratic one-party dominance.
The charter proposes term limits for prime ministers, the creation of a 100-seat upper house in parliament, stronger presidential powers, enhanced judicial independence, and greater representation for women in parliament. It also calls for the election of deputy speakers and parliamentary committee chairs from opposition parties. The reforms are designed to expand Bangladesh’s parliamentary system into a bicameral legislature and introduce checks to ensure more inclusive governance.
Support for the charter is strong among major parties participating in the elections, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the student-led National Citizen Party, while Hasina’s former Awami League has been barred from contesting. Muhammad Yunus has promoted a “yes” vote as the defining legacy of his caretaker government, saying approval would open the door to building a new democratic Bangladesh.
Despite backing from major political groups, public understanding of the charter remains limited. A survey by Dhaka’s IID policy research centre found that only 37 percent of respondents were familiar with the proposals, and among those without formal education, awareness fell to just 8 percent. Observers have warned that the complexity of the reforms and limited public engagement may affect the referendum’s inclusiveness.
If approved by a simple majority in the referendum, the charter will be binding on the winning parties, though it still requires ratification by the newly elected parliament to take full effect.