The upcoming referendum, scheduled to coincide with the national election, seems to have taken a back seat in the BNP’s agenda, as the party has decided not to actively push for either a “yes” or a “no” vote.
Expressing disappointment over the absence of opposing viewpoints in the July charter’s referendum query, BNP members revealed that the party is choosing to prioritize election preparations over referendum campaigning. The party is hesitant to endorse a “yes” vote as it believes it does not align with its own demands, while advocating for a “no” vote could lead to conflicts with other parties supporting a “yes” stance.
In light of these considerations, the BNP has opted not to provide specific instructions to its supporters regarding their voting choices for the referendum. Party leaders argue that adopting a confrontational approach at this stage may complicate matters and divert attention from election-related tasks.
Emphasizing that the responsibility ultimately lies with the government, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed highlighted that the implementation order of the July charter and the Referendum Ordinance did not address dissenting opinions. He cautioned that the lack of diverse viewpoints in the referendum question could mislead the public into believing unanimous support for the proposal.
While reiterating its commitment to the version of the July National Charter endorsed on October 17, the BNP has raised concerns about the government’s actions beyond the agreed charter. Despite objecting to the referendum query, the party is treading cautiously due to the fulfillment of its demand to hold the referendum alongside the national polls.
The government recently issued the Referendum Ordinance 2025 to facilitate the referendum on the July National Charter. The ordinance allows the Election Commission to utilize the same ballot boxes used in the general election, along with a distinct colored ballot paper for the referendum. Notably, expatriates will have the opportunity to participate in the referendum through postal ballots for the first time.
The referendum will revolve around a single question encompassing four aspects of constitutional reforms, following the same electoral procedures as the general election. With the government’s decision to conduct both the national election and the referendum concurrently, the Election Commission is taking steps to ensure the smooth execution of both processes.
Bangladesh, having conducted three referendums in the past, witnessed the 1977 and 1985 referendums under Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad’s administrations, respectively. The 1991 referendum marked the country’s transition back to parliamentary democracy, each held under distinct referendum regulations.