Bangladesh’s election and referendum could widen instability, wary candidates and experts

Days before the February 12 general election and popular referendum, candidates and experts have questioned the wisdom Holding a referendum aimed at curtailing power Prime Minister post. He said there was very little understanding among the public about the idea and objectives of the referendum and the results of the two processes were likely to lead to ‘tension’ that would increase political instability in the country.

The The referendum aims to implement the recommendations made by the July Charteris a document created by the National Consensus Commission set up for constitutional reform after the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina’s regime. Among its many recommendations, the July Charter seeks to increase the power of Bangladesh’s president, a largely ceremonial position at the moment. It is recommended to remove the word ‘Bengali’ from Article 6(2) of the present Constitution and replace it with ‘Bangladeshi’.

Apart from this, the major focus of the Charter was aimed at curtailing the power of the Prime Minister and ensuring that no future Prime Minister would be able to abuse the power. These provisions have already raised concerns among candidates campaigning for the February 12 polls.

The National Consensus Commission consulted with political parties while drafting the July Charter but the election candidates here said they were not involved in the drafting of the July Charter. BNP-backed Andaliv Rahman Partho, who is contesting from the Bhola-1 constituency in southern Bangladesh, said, “Some political parties were approached while making the July charter, but we were not involved in the drafting process in the necessary manner.”

He said the importance of the National Parliament should not be undermined by means outside the scope of electoral politics. As a representative of young Bangladeshis, he said he “acknowledges” the sacrifices made in July-August to topple Sheikh Hasina’s government but does not want to make changes in the parliamentary process currently prevailing in Bangladesh as that system cannot be blamed for Sheikh Hasina’s excesses.

“I have and accept the spirit of July emanating from the sacrifice of July 2024 but I do not want to make it a Magna Carta. The recommendations of the July Charter should be adopted by the next Parliament, that is the best way,” said Mr Rahman Partho. He argued that corruption depends on individuals and that it is wrong to assume that all future prime ministers will have a tendency to concentrate power and become financially corrupt. He said most people are not aware of the various aspects of the July Charter. Mr. Rehman Partho said.

Shafkat Muneer, a senior fellow at the Bangladesh Institute for Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), also said the referendum could create further problems ahead for the country. “The questions asked in the referendum and the process of implementing the referendum are complex and in some cases opaque. Voters, especially in rural areas, have little understanding of what they are voting for. The interim government’s initial handling of the referendum has raised several important questions,” Mr Munir said.