President Shahabuddin Issues Order to Implement July Charter

Bangladesh: President Md Shahabuddin on Thursday issued the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025, marking the formal beginning of the process to enact the long-discussed reform proposals.

Earlier in the day, the Advisory Council of the interim government approved the order during a meeting held at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. Following the approval, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus addressed the nation to explain the content and implementation procedure of the presidential order.

In his national address, Professor Yunus announced that the national parliamentary election and the referendum will be held on the same day. The referendum will cover four key reform issues, and voters will express their opinion by casting a single “yes” or “no” vote on a combined question.

“We have taken this decision after careful consideration,” said the Chief Adviser. “The national election and the referendum will be held simultaneously in the first half of February. This will ensure that the reform objectives are not disrupted.”

He also stated that the necessary legal framework for conducting the referendum will be enacted at an appropriate time to facilitate its smooth implementation.