Bangladesh to Hold Election and Referendum Simultaneously in February 2026: Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus

Move aims to formalize constitutional reforms under July Charter amid mounting political pressure from Islamist parties

Dhaka, Nov 2025 : Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday announced that the country will hold a national election and a referendum simultaneously in the first half of February 2026, marking a key step in the ongoing political transition since the ouster of the Awami League government earlier this year.

In a televised address to the nation, Yunus said the referendum will coincide with the general elections to “make the democratic process more festive and cost-effective,” while ensuring the continuity of political and constitutional reforms outlined in the July Charter. “The referendum will take place in the first half of February simultaneously with the general election. This will not hinder our goals of reform; rather, it will make the election more festive and cost-effective,” Yunus stated, according to the United News of Bangladesh (UNB).

He added that an appropriate law would soon be framed to facilitate the holding of the referendum and that “all-out preparations are underway to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and inclusive election.”

Yunus emphasized that the interim administration has already initiated several key measures to implement the July Charter, including the establishment of a Constitutional Reform Council and a public referendum on proposed amendments.

Rising Pressure from Islamist Parties

The announcement comes amid mounting pressure from Islamist political groups demanding legal recognition of the July Charter before any elections are held.

On Tuesday, eight Islamist parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, warned that national polls could not take place without first granting the Charter formal legal status.

During a massive rally at Dhaka’s Paltan intersection, leaders of these parties reiterated their demand for a referendum prior to the elections, threatening to besiege the official residence of Muhammad Yunus if their demands were ignored.

In a joint statement released by Islami Andolon Bangladesh, the coalition expressed deep concern over the interim government’s delay in deciding the Charter’s legal standing. “Our demand is simple: the July uprising must be recognised. Those who don’t accept July will not see an election in 2026,” Jamaat leader Shafiqur Rahman declared, as quoted by The Daily Star. “To hold that election, the uprising must first receive legal recognition. Without it, no polls can take place.”

Echoing the sentiment, Islami Andolon leader Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim warned that the legitimacy of the upcoming polls would be questioned if the Charter was not formally adopted. “If legal recognition of the Charter is not given, the election will be illegal. If you don’t act, we’ll launch a movement strong enough to compel you to hold the referendum before the polls,” he said.

Jamaat leader Hamidur Rahman Azad also cautioned the interim government, saying, “We don’t want to march from here to the Jamuna for a siege. Implement the July Charter without delay and announce the referendum schedule.”

Political Divide Deepens

Amid the growing uncertainty, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has proposed that the referendum be held alongside the national elections in February 2026, while the Islamist bloc insists it must precede the polls.

Analysts warn that these conflicting positions could further deepen the rift among political factions that had initially supported Yunus’s interim administration following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government.

As the February deadline approaches, Bangladesh faces an increasingly volatile political climate marked by street protests, legal ambiguity, and intense debate over the future of its democratic institutions.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)