MARKET STRUCTURE · REGULATORY · BANGLADESH
Bangladesh referendum approves July National Charter reform package
Change
Bangladesh’s Election Commission said the ‘yes’ vote won the national referendum on implementing the 84-point July National Charter reform package, with 60.26% voter turnout (announced Feb. 13, 2026).
Why it matters
The Election Commission’s Feb. 13, 2026 announcement confirms voter approval of the July National Charter reform package, alongside the Feb. 12 parliamentary election. The charter is positioned as a core element of the interim government’s transition agenda under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. Per the charter co-chair’s stated mechanism, a ‘yes’ outcome makes the next parliament function as a constitutional reform council. That framing introduces a defined timeline: within 180 working days, steps would be taken to carry out the proposed constitutional reforms, compressing the window for institutional and legislative sequencing.
Implications
- • Constitutional reform process is now politically anchored to a referendum mandate.
- • Next parliament’s remit may expand to a reform-council function under the charter.
- • A 180-working-day window tightens sequencing for constitutional reform steps.
- • Election and governance stakeholders face near-term rule-change uncertainty during rollout.
Who is affected
- • Bangladesh Election Commission and election administrators
- • Incoming members of Bangladesh’s next parliament
- • Interim government leadership under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus
- • Political parties and civil-society groups engaged in constitutional reform
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