Thursday’s election for Bangladesh gave Tariq Rahman’s BNP a huge mandate. Voters also supported sweeping democratic reforms in a national referendum.
Counting for Bangladesh’s national referendum and general election began on February 12, the first election since a deadly insurgency in 2024. (AFP)During the February 12 election, in addition to voting for the next prime minister, voters also voted yes to the adoption of the July National Charter in a national referendum held alongside the general election.
According to the Election Commission of Bangladesh, the referendum saw 60.26 percent voter turnout and a clear majority of “yes” votes.
Bangladesh Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed while talking to reporters on Friday said that according to official figures, 4,80,74,429 people voted “yes” and 2,25,65,627 voters voted “no” in the referendum.
Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed while talking to reporters at the EC today said that according to official statistics, 4,80,74,429 votes were cast in favor of ‘Yes’ and 2,25,65,627 voters chose ‘No’.
Track live updates of Bangladesh poll results here.
What is the national referendum of Bangladesh and what changes?In July a national referendum was held in Bangladesh to determine whether the National Charter 2025, a proposed constitutional reform package, should be adopted.
The July charter was formed after Sheikh Hasina was ousted as Prime Minister of Bangladesh in 2024. It made several reforms for social justice through good governance, democracy and institutional reforms, to avoid “the recurrence of authoritarian and fascist regimes,” news agency Reuters reported.
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Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus, ahead of the general election, urged the people to say yes to the charter as he said the people’s approval was needed to implement key reforms.
The people of Bangladesh voted on Thursday for major reforms proposed in the charter, including term limits for the prime minister, the creation of an upper house of parliament, strengthening of the president’s powers and more independence of the judiciary.
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Now that the people have voted ‘yes’ to adopt the July Charter, a Constitutional Reform Council is to implement the reforms within 180 working days of its first session.
What reforms are proposed in the Charter?Among the key reforms proposed in the July charter, which was named after the July 2024 uprising led by Sheikh Hasina, is the creation of an upper house with 100 seats, which will be allocated according to each party’s national voter share.
It also proposed limiting the number of posts of a prime minister, greater representation of women in parliament, election of opposition leaders as deputy speakers and chairs of parliamentary committees, increased powers of the president, etc.
(with input from AFP, Reuters)
