Dhaka: The government today published the gazette of the 'July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025'. The Order mandates the government for a referendum on the provisions of the July National Charter relating to reforms of the Constitution. The Order and its constitution-reform issues will be submitted for referendum to 'exercise the sovereign power of the people,' the notification said. The referendum will be held in accordance with the Order on the day of the national parliament election.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the charter envisages the creation of a bicameral parliament with an upper house of 100 members, representing the political parties proportionally according to the vote they got in the polls. The Order has made as many as 30 proposals including limiting the term of the Prime Minister in office, empowering the President, electing the Deputy Speaker from the opposition bench, and increasing the number of female seats in the parliament. It suggests that the execution of the proposals will be obligatory for the winning political parties of the coming parliamentary elections.
The referendum will be held through ballot and each voter will vote secretly on the ballot determined by the Election Commission. According to the gazette, an appropriate law will be enacted for holding the referendum and the Election Commission will take required measures to this end. Earlier, President of Bangladesh Md Shahabuddin signed the Order, the notification said.
In the ballot of the referendum, the following question shall be placed before the voters: 'Do you have consent to the July National Charter (Constitution Reforms) Implementation Order, 2025 and the following proposals related to constitutional reform mentioned in the July National Charter?' The proposals include the formation of a Caretaker Government, a bicameral National Parliament, and the obligation of winning parties to execute the 30 proposals of the charter.
According to the Order, if the majority of votes indicate 'yes', then a Constitutional Reform Council will be formed with the elected representatives of the national parliament which can exercise every power to reform the constitution. The representatives elected at the said election shall simultaneously serve as members of the Jatiya Sangsad and as members of the Constitution Reform Council.
The Council shall complete the constitution reform in accordance with the July National Charter and the results of the referendum within 180 working days from the date of commencement of its first session of the parliament. The activities of the Council shall be closed after completion of the constitution reform. For fulfillment of the purpose of this Order, the Council shall determine the rules of procedure of convening and adjourning its sessions, raising proposals for constitution reform, and other related matters.
The Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat shall provide secretarial assistance to the Council. The elected representatives shall, after taking oath as members of the Parliament, swear-in again as members of the Constitution Reform Council in the same oath-taking ceremony. The first session of the Council shall be convened within 30 calendar days of the declaration of the election results.
The presence of at least 60 members of the Council shall be required for conducting the proceedings. A decision shall be taken by a majority vote for the approval of any proposal relating to constitutional amendments. In case of an equal number of votes, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
In accordance with the Order, the validity of any proceedings of the Council and the special rights and immunity of the members shall be the same as those of the Jatiya Sangsad and the Members of the Parliament. Measures shall be taken to incorporate the July National Charter into the Constitution as committed by the political parties.
An Upper House of the Jatiya Sangsad shall be constituted on the basis of proportional representation of the votes obtained by the political parties in the Lower House. The tenure of the Upper House will be effective from the date of its members taking the oath to the last day of the tenure of the Lower House.
The Council may frame necessary provisions and the Government may issue instructions for removing any obstacle to the formation of the Upper House. According to the Order, the constitution reform adopted by the Council shall be final, and no other approval shall be required. The full text of the reform and the reformed Constitution shall be published by the Government in the Official Gazette. The Government may issue directives for implementing the provisions of this Order.