Bangladesh Votes Overwhelmingly in Favor of Constitutional Reforms, July Charter

Bangladesh has voted “yes” to sweeping constitutional reforms known as the July Charter, a move that could reshape the country’s political system for decades. In a referendum held alongside the 13th parliamentary elections, about 65.3% of voters backed the 84-point reform package, according to reporting by The Daily Star. The charter emerged from the political upheaval of 2024 and aims to prevent a return to authoritarian rule. The July Charter is an 84-point constitutional reform package drafted by a National Consensus Commission led by Nobel laureate and interim leader . The document was shaped through consultations with major political parties, including the , formerly led by , and . The charter seeks to formally recognize the 2024 uprising that forced longtime Prime Minister to flee to India. More broadly, it aims to restructure the country’s institutions to reduce the concentration of executive power.