The forthcoming national parliamentary election will take place on February 12, 2026. The referendum that will guarantee the People's Republic of Bangladesh's constitutional amendment will make this election day distinctive and worthwhile. The mandate from our nation's citizens will be guaranteed by this referendum. This is the People's Republic of Bangladesh's interim government's most innovative move.
Previous governments have changed the constitution several times for their political purposes, and they tried to rule the country autonomously for a long time. They have destroyed all the government institutions by politicizing them. Constitutional institutions become politically biased, and the citizens of the country cannot get their governmental services properly and neutrally.
July Charter 2025 is the constitutional reckoning that will radically change the political system of Bangladesh. The July charter is the law, and the constitution will strengthen the democratic system. If Bangladesh's upcoming July Charter referendum resulted in a majority in favor of 'Yes', it would be a fundamental step taken by the Interim government for which this government was formed.
Law enforcement authorities were serving the purpose of the ruling governments, and they were serving by the repression of dissenting voices. The detective branch served the government severely. They were directly involved in forcibly disappearing the opposition party people and the dissenting voices. The court was the last hope for the victims and oppressed but this section was also politically influenced. So the ordinary people were in hardship and leading a miserly life for many years.
After the August uprising, the interim government was formed to reform the constitution as well as the country, demanding it as a priority. After many discussions with all the political parties on some key policy-making issues, the political parties have come to a point to reform the constitution by adding the July Charter to the constitution. Here, to add the Charter to the Constitution, a referendum will give the mandate that is the ultimate decision taken by the majority of citizens of this country.
The July charter is the result of the consensus of all the political parties of Bangladesh. It is not only a document but also a significant record from the existing political party that is in agreement with the issues mentioned in the charter. It is the charter that contains the future additional constitution for the People's Republic of Bangladesh that will build the new and reformed Bangladesh.
The objective of the referendum on 12 February is to answer four points about the July National Charter 2025, by answering Yes or No. This result will ensure the constitutional changes of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. As we know, the formation of the Interim government after the 5th August constitutional reform was one of the main demands of the July Movement. This referendum is the formal way to reform with the consent of the citizens of the country.
This mandate will be legitimate under the July charter. If the majority of the people vote for 'Yes' in the 12 February referendum, the July charter will be added to the constitutions of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. That is why Voting 'Yes' in the referendum is crucial to the future of the nation. Voting "Yes" is significant in many ways.
If you vote yes to the referendum, the caretaker government system will be restored. The bicameral parliament will be formed to balance the power of the government. The judiciary will be free and more powerful to ensure social justice. Changes to the constitution will not be easy, as previously, according to the one-party rule. The accountability of the government will be a must. The governmental and constitutional institutions will be impartial, accountable, and servants of the state. They will be obliged to serve the citizen, basically. It will cause major structural changes to the ruling system of the country. Ultimately, we will get a new Bangladesh of social Justice, Good governance, equality, and security, rule of law, an accountable parliament, and an impartial law enforcement agency. So we should vote 'Yes' in the 12 February referendum.
The writer is a student, Islamic University, Kushtia
