Dhaka is currently grappling with a significant political development following the submission of final recommendations by the National Consensus Commission (NCC) to the interim government. At the heart of these recommendations is a proposal to hold a nationwide referendum to seek public mandate for the implementation of the pivotal July National Charter’s constitutional amendments.
The NCC, established to foster broad-based agreement on systemic reforms stemming from the mass popular uprising, has presented a detailed framework for institutional renewal. Vice-Chair Professor Ali Riaz confirmed at a press briefing that the commission has advised the interim administration to arrange the national referendum at any point between the promulgation of the implementation order and the day of the next national election. This move is explicitly aimed at securing broad-based legitimacy and ensuring deep citizen participation in the sweeping reform process, which the NCC views as critical for stabilizing the nation’s political transition.
The Referendum Question and Implementation Models
The core issue subject to the public vote revolves around 48 specific proposals for constitutional amendments outlined within the July Charter, which seeks a total overhaul of Bangladesh’s political and constitutional institutions, including restructuring the Election Commission and decentralizing administrative power. The NCC has put forth two alternative models for the interim government to consider for this process.
Under the first model, the government would immediately issue an order—titled the “July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025”—and then hold the referendum on the entire package of 48 reform points. If the public approves the reforms via a 'Yes' vote, the next Parliament would be convened as a Constitutional Reform Council with a tenure of 270 days to formalize the amendments. A crucial, and potentially contentious, element is the provision for automatic enactment: if the Council fails to complete the amendments within the stipulated 270 days, the proposed reforms will be enacted automatically, regardless.
The second model suggests the government promulgates an order to frame a bill incorporating the 48 reform issues, which would then be put to the referendum. Notably, the NCC’s proposal advocates for a single question in the ballot, asking for approval of the order and its attached reform items, potentially excluding dissenting notes from the formal referendum question, a move viewed positively by some political blocs like the National Citizen Party (NCP).
Political Divide on Timing
While the NCC has recommended a clear path, the precise timing of the referendum remains a point of political contention among different stakeholders. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has firmly stated its opposition to holding the vote before the national election. BNP leaders have insisted that the referendum must occur concurrently with the general election, utilizing a separate ballot paper to ensure the process remains tied to the electoral mandate.
Conversely, other parties, including the NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami, have preferred the referendum take place before the national election, arguing that settling these fundamental constitutional issues first will better pave the way for the next phase of governance in the new Bangladesh. The NCC's recommendation appears to align more closely with the pre-election timing, though it leaves the final decision on the exact date to the interim government after consultation with the Election Commission, which has jurisdiction over organizing such a poll.
Broader Context and Challenges
The entire framework is designed to give constitutional recognition to the massive July 2024 student uprising that preceded the formation of the current interim government. The July Charter itself aims to reshape the country’s politics and institutions, replacing the previous political doctrine with a new foundation for democracy and accountability.
However, the recommendation is not without criticism. Some political figures, including those from the BNP, have alleged a "mismatch" between the commission's final report and the actual discussions held within the commission forum, raising concerns that the proposed roadmap could deepen existing political divisions rather than foster the intended consensus. Furthermore, the implementation process for the Charter, even with a referendum, faces scrutiny as key political entities like the Awami League and the NCP were not signatories to the initial Charter document, posing questions about the ultimate buy-in for nationwide reforms.
As Bangladesh navigates this crucial period of institutional renewal, the interim government's decision on when and how to proceed with the NCC's referendum proposal will be a defining moment for the nation's path toward an elected parliament and the fulfillment of the aspirations voiced during the July movement. The stability of the political transition hinges on the successful, widely accepted implementation of these foundational reforms.