The government is exploring the option of combining the national election and referendum to address the ongoing political crisis. The referendum might include multiple questions, including those related to dissenting opinions submitted by political parties during consensus talks on the July charter.
In an attempt to accommodate party demands, the administration is considering forming an upper house of parliament. Two potential models are being discussed: one where all 100 chamber members are elected proportionally based on party vote shares in national polls, and another where seats are divided between vote ratios and party seat shares in the lower house.
There is also a proposal to eliminate the automatic inclusion of reform measures in the constitution if the Constitutional Reform Council fails to act within 270 days of its first meeting. Amid disagreements, advisers are engaged in intense discussions to find a resolution after parties missed the government’s deadline for constitutional reforms under the July charter.
The advisory council is set to address the issue at its regular weekly meeting today, following the missed deadline. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus will deliver a live address this afternoon on Bangladesh Television channels. Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasized the need for prompt decision-making on constitutional reforms to keep up with the times.
Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan mentioned waiting for political parties’ decisions and indicated that a decision may be made on November 13 if no consensus is reached. The government had urged parties to reconcile their differences within a week, warning of necessary action if they failed to do so.
Disagreements persist over the timing of the referendum, charter implementation order, and dissenting notes. BNP prefers holding the referendum concurrently with the election, while Jamaat-e-Islami advocates for an earlier referendum. Jamaat and allies have initiated protests over demands, including holding the referendum this month and issuing an implementation order for the July charter.
Parties have warned of an indefinite sit-in until their demands are met. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar emphasized resolving issues through dialogue and threatened a sit-in if demands are not addressed. National Citizen Party has shown support for Jamaat’s demand for a charter implementation order.
BNP seeks to include dissenting notes in the implementation process, while Jamaat and NCP prefer their exclusion. The July National Charter, signed by various parties, requires parties submitting dissenting views to include them in their manifesto. The National Consensus Commission omitted the dissent section in its recommendations on charter implementation.
BNP and other parties raised dissent on multiple constitutional reform proposals during consensus talks. BNP opposed a constitutional order for charter implementation and the automatic insertion of reform bill into the constitution if reforms are not completed within 270 days. BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman reiterated the party’s commitment to upholding the July charter’s commitments during a virtual discussion event.