Thousands of supporters of Jamaat‑e‑Islami and allied parties rallied in Dhaka demanding a referendum to make the July National Charter legally binding before any general election. The charter, proposed by interim leader Muhammad Yunus after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, would introduce checks and balances, presidential authority, term limits and anti‑corruption measures. Parties including Khaleda Zia’s BNP have signed the nonbinding charter, but Islamists insist a public vote is needed to enshrine it in the constitution. Political tensions remain high as a tribunal prepares to set a verdict date in cases against Hasina and rights groups raise concerns about the interim government's conduct.
Islamist Parties Demand Referendum to Enshrine Post‑Uprising 'July National Charter' Before 2026 Election
Thousands of supporters of Jamaat‑e‑Islami and allied parties rallied in Dhaka demanding a referendum to make the July National Charter legally binding before any general election. The charter, proposed by interim leader Muhammad Yunus after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, would introduce checks and balances, presidential authority, term limits and anti‑corruption measures. Parties including Khaleda Zia’s BNP have signed the nonbinding charter, but Islamists insist a public vote is needed to enshrine it in the constitution. Political tensions remain high as a tribunal prepares to set a verdict date in cases against Hasina and rights groups raise concerns about the interim government's conduct.
02:14 AM, 11/12/2025Politics
Islamist Parties in Bangladesh Push for Referendum to Make Charter Binding
Dhaka — Thousands of supporters of Jamaat‑e‑Islami and seven allied parties rallied in the capital on Tuesday, urging the interim government to make the proposed national document known as the "July National Charter" legally binding before any general election can take place.
Organizers and speakers at the demonstration said there can be no credible vote without a legally enforceable roadmap for political reform. They also demanded that the next general election, expected in early 2026, be conducted under a proportional representation system rather than the current electoral arrangement.
The July National Charter grew out of a national uprising that began in July 2024 and helped lead to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. The charter is currently nonbinding, and the Islamist and allied parties say a public referendum is needed to convert it into a constitutional commitment. Under Bangladesh’s parliamentary system, only Parliament can formally amend the constitution for the country of about 170 million people.
The reform roadmap was proposed by the interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who assumed control three days after Hasina’s removal amid mass unrest on Aug. 5 last year. Its measures are intended to introduce more checks and balances to prevent future authoritarian drift, including proposals to strengthen the presidency to better balance a historically powerful prime minister, set term limits for lawmakers and add safeguards against conflicts of interest, money laundering and corruption.
On Oct. 17, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, signed the charter alongside 24 other parties. Bangladesh currently has 52 registered political parties. Apart from the BNP, the Awami League — Sheikh Hasina’s party — remains a major political force, but its activities have been banned by the Yunus‑led government. Hasina has been living in exile in India since her ouster and is facing trial over the deaths of hundreds during last year’s unrest.
Jamaat‑e‑Islami, the largest Islamist party involved in the rally, carries a controversial history tied to the country’s 1971 independence war. The party has endorsed the charter and is building a broader platform to contest the next election, particularly if the Awami League remains sidelined.
At the rally, supporters warned they would not accept an election unless the charter is ratified by referendum and made legally enforceable. A special tribunal handling charges of crimes against humanity is scheduled to announce the date for a verdict in the case against Hasina. Meanwhile, human rights groups have accused the Yunus administration of violating the political and civil rights of opposition figures and Hasina’s supporters.
Hasina’s son told The Associated Press that only an inclusive election could stabilise the country, underscoring ongoing political uncertainty under the interim government.