127 million people of Bangladesh are voting today to elect a new popular government after 18 months of uncertainty and an interim government rule. The voting started at 7:30 AM and will go till 4:30 PM today, with the main contest between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Bangladesh Jamat-e-Islami (BJI).
However, together with its first parliamentary election since violent protests ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, the Bangladeshi citizens are also taking part in a national referendum. The referendum is aimed at reforms to state institutions.
What is a National Referendum?
The national referendum focuses on implementing the 'July Charter', drafted soon after the 2024 uprising. It is aimed to bring certain constitutional, legal and institutional reforms to establish good governance, democracy, and social justice and to prevent "recurrence of authoritarian and fascist rule".
The July Charter was approved in November by the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Mohd Yunus, which took power after Hasina's ouster, saying public approval was necessary for key changes.
Why is Bangladesh holding a referendum?
The country is holding a referendum as after Hasina's ouster in an anti-establishment movement, there was a demand of reforms. The aspiration was to deviate from the governance model which hitherto existed and followed by the Hasina regime, which was highly projected as an authoritative rule.
The voters will decide on four major reforms. These include the creation of new constitutional bodies and the introduction of a bicameral parliament. Under a bicameral parliament, an approval from a majority of the upper house shall be needed for constitutional amendments.
Other questions in the referendum cover the implementation of 30 reforms, including term limits for PMs and enhanced presidential power.
How many times has Bangladesh held referendums?
In its brief history of 55 years, Bangladesh has seen three referendums with people overwhelmingly voting "yes" in all of them.
In 2011, Hasina banned referendums, and it was reinstated in 2024.
In the 1977 and 1985 referendums, people voted on the question if they had confidence in the then-presidents and their policies. In 1991, it was asked whether Bangladesh should return from a presidential system to parliamentary democracy.
Referendum procedure
Like for the general election, each voter will cast their vote by secret ballot. If a majority votes in favour, a Constitutional Reform Council will be formed to complete the reforms within 180 working days from its first session.
(With inputs from agencies)