The Lok Sabha passed the bill 342-186 after a 14-hour debate — the longest since the 1976 Emergency-era amendments. Rajya Sabha vote is set for Thursday at 3pm.
Bangladesh’s 2026 constitutional reform referendum has concluded with a decisive “Yes” victory, paving the way for sweeping institutional changes. The referendum, held alongside the 13th parliamentary elections on February 12, 2026, sought public approval for the July National Charter 2025, a comprehensive 84-point reform package proposed by the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Key outcomes and implications include:
- Over 60% voter turnout, with 48.07 million votes in favor (“Yes”) and 22.57 million against (“No”), according to official results announced by the Election Commission on February 13.
- The “Yes” vote empowers the newly elected Parliament to function as a Constitutional Reform Council, effectively a constituent assembly, with 180 working days to implement the reforms.
- The package includes major changes such as:
- Establishing a bicameral Parliament with a 100-member Upper House elected proportionally.
- Imposing a 10-year term limit for the Prime Minister.
- Expanding the President’s executive powers, including independent appointments to key commissions.
- Reinstating the caretaker government system for future elections.
- Strengthening judicial independence and increasing women’s representation in Parliament.
- The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a commanding mandate, securing 209 out of 297 seats, giving it the supermajority needed to drive constitutional amendments.
- Despite the popular mandate, legal and constitutional experts have raised concerns that the reforms could undermine the continuity of Bangladesh’s 1972 Constitution, particularly due to the interim government’s role in initiating the referendum without a constitutional basis.
As of March 15, 2026, 77 opposition members have already taken oath as members of the newly formed Constitutional Reform Council, signaling the formal start of the reform process.
