Bangladesh (Commonwealth Union)_ Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has called on citizens to support a sweeping reform plan in an upcoming national referendum, arguing that the changes are necessary to prevent the return of excessive concentration of power in the country’s political system. At the heart of the proposal is a rule that would prevent any individual from serving as prime minister for more than 10 years. Yunus appealed in a televised address, urging voters to back the reform package when they go to the polls. The referendum will be held alongside Bangladesh’s general elections on February 12, ensuring that the proposed changes become a central issue in a vote that is expected to define the country’s political direction following the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
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Ex-Prime Minister Hasina dominated Bangladesh’s political landscape for much of the past decade, serving multiple terms and becoming one of the country’s longest-serving leaders. Critics have long argued that her extended tenure allowed too much power to accumulate in the prime minister’s office, weakening other institutions meant to provide checks and balances. Presenting his reforms as a clear departure from that era, Yunus framed the referendum as an opportunity for voters to shape a different future. “Vote ‘Yes’ to build the state according to your expectations,” he said. “By choosing ‘Yes,’ you open the door to creating a new Bangladesh.” He added that public approval of the reforms would help free the country from what he described as discrimination, exploitation, and oppression.
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The proposed cap on prime ministerial tenure is one of the most prominent elements of the reform package. Under the plan, no individual would be allowed to hold the office for more than a combined total of 10 years. Yunus said the measure is designed to prevent long-term domination by any single leader and to encourage regular leadership renewal. The reforms go beyond term limits. Yunus said the judiciary would be strengthened to operate independently, without political interference. He also outlined plans to introduce a bicameral parliament, which would include an upper house aimed at providing additional oversight and balancing legislative power.
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Other proposals would restrict presidential authority, including limits on the president’s ability to grant pardons to convicted criminals. “All power will not be concentrated in the hands of the prime minister if the people cast a ‘yes’ vote,” Yunus said, emphasizing that the reforms are meant to distribute authority more evenly across state institutions. The proposals are laid out in an 84-point document known as the July National Charter-2025. The charter was unveiled on October 17 after months of discussions with political parties and the National Consensus Commission, which is chaired by Yunus. At its launch, he described the moment as the “birth of a New Bangladesh” and said the country had taken a step toward a more civilized political order.
As state agencies began encouraging voters to support the referendum, critics questioned whether an interim government should be actively campaigning. Industries adviser Adilur Rahman Khan dismissed the criticism, accusing opponents of acting on behalf of what he called “fugitive forces,” a phrase widely interpreted as referring to supporters of Hasina and her now-dissolved Awami League. Several major political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, signed the charter but attached notes expressing reservations about certain proposals. Despite endorsing the document, neither party has launched a strong public campaign in support of the referendum.
Meanwhile, the student-led National Citizen Party, formed last year with Yunus’ support and linked to the protests that led to the previous government’s downfall in August 2024, did not sign the charter but is actively urging voters to approve the reforms. The referendum has also raised legal concerns. Constitutional experts argue that Bangladesh’s current constitution does not provide for a nationwide referendum of this kind. Senior jurist Swadhin Malik has said that several decisions outlined in the July Charter conflict with the existing constitution and questioned whether the president has the authority to approve the proposals while the constitution remains unchanged formally.
