National Polls and Referendum to be Held Together

The Election Commission (EC) has officially announced that the 13th National Parliament Election and the accompanying national referendum will be held simultaneously. 

A notification issued by the EC Secretariat on Saturday, signed by Director (Public Relations) and Information Officer Md. Ruhul Amin Mallick, confirmed the decision and detailed the specific question to be put to voters, along with the proposed reform measures.

The referendum question reads, "Do you agree with the July National Charter (Constitutional Amendment) Order, 2025 and the proposals related to constitutional amendments recorded in the July National Charter? (Yes/No)"

According to the notification, the proposals cover several major areas. The caretaker government, the Election Commission and other constitutional institutions will be formed in line with the July Charter.

A bicameral parliament will be established, with an upper house of 100 members proportionally elected based on party votes, and constitutional amendments will require majority approval in the upper house. 

The July Charter also makes mandatory the implementation of measures such as enhanced women's representation in parliament, election of the deputy speaker and parliamentary committee chairs from opposition parties, protection of fundamental rights, judicial independence, reforms in local government, tenure of the Prime Minister, powers of the President, and 30 other scheduled matters. 

Other amendments mentioned in the Charter will be implemented by political parties according to their commitments.