Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader of Bangladesh, announced on Thursday that the country will hold a national referendum on constitutional reforms and the upcoming parliamentary elections on the same day, in the first half of February 2026.
In a televised address, Yunus said the decision was approved at the Adviser’s Council meeting, describing it as “a major step toward implementing the reform roadmap that emerged from last year’s protests.” The announcement came a amid calls for a nationwide lockdown by the Awami League and sporadic incidents of violence, including an explosion near the Dhaka University and arson in Tangra, where a bus was set on fire.
The July National Charter outlines sweeping constitutional and structural reforms aimed at strengthening democracy, accountability and governance. It proposes the formation of a bicameral parliament, with an upper house of 100 members to be appointed in proportion to the national vote share received by political parties.
