Dhaka, February 13 A referendum on the implementation of a reform package saw a 60.26 per cent voter turnout in Bangladesh, with the "yes" vote winning a clear majority, the Election Commission announced on Friday.
Voting for the 13th parliamentary elections was held on Thursday along with the referendum on the complex 84-point reform package, known as the July National Charter.
The referendum saw a 60.26 per cent voter turnout, the Election Commission (EC) said.
According to official figures, 4,80,74,429 votes were cast in favour of “yes”, while 2,25,65,627 voters chose “no”, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said while speaking to reporters at the EC.
The referendum sought people's consent to the July National Charter 2025, which Interim government chief Muhammad Yunus announced on October 17 after protracted consultations between the political parties and the National Consensus Commission that he headed.
The referendum ballot featured a single question covering four major reform areas of the July Charter and the voters were instructed to vote “yes” if they agreed more strongly with the proposals and “no” if they disagreed.
Voting was held in 299 out of 300 constituencies as polling in one constituency was suspended following the death of a candidate.
Results of the national parliamentary election have so far been announced in 297 constituencies after the High Court imposed a bar on declaring results in two seats, the EC said.
However, the EC officials said there was no legal bar on announcing the referendum results in those two constituencies.
The referendum votes from the two seats were included in the final tally, making 60.26 per cent voter turnout, the EC added.
According to the unofficial results announced by the Election Commission, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has bagged 209 out of 297 seats, while right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats. The Awami League party of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was barred from contesting the polls, which recorded 59.44 per cent voter turnout.
During the consultation process, the BNP had taken part but did not agree to all the proposals and even said the next parliament alone should make such decisions.
Out of the 84 proposals mentioned in the July Charter, 47 required massive constitutional amendments, while 37 could be implemented through ordinary legislation.
News portal BDNews24 said while the Charter outlines a total of 84 reform points related to state restructuring, the National Consensus Commission has classified those beyond constitutional amendments as reforms to be implemented through laws, ordinances, regulations and executive orders.
These included provisions for forming a caretaker government, the Election Commission (EC) and other constitutional bodies during election periods in line with the July Charter; the introduction of a bicameral parliament with a 100-member Upper House formed proportionally based on parties’ vote share and whose majority approval would be required for constitutional amendments; and the mandatory implementation, by the next elected government, of 30 agreed reform proposals, it said.
These proposals cover issues such as increasing women’s representation in parliament, appointing a deputy speaker and parliamentary committee chairs from the opposition, enacting term limits for the prime minister’s seat, enhancing presidential powers, expanding fundamental rights, ensuring judicial independence and strengthening local government.
The fourth component of the implementation of other reforms outlined in the July Charter is in line with political parties’ commitments, the news portal added.
The July Charter’s key-author and co-chair of the National Consensus Commission Ali Reaz earlier said if “yes” wins, the next parliament will serve as a constitutional reform council, virtually a Constituent Assembly, and within 180 working days, they would have to take steps to carry out constitutional reforms as proposed.
