Bangladesh Constitutional Reform 2026

On 12 February 2026, Bangladesh held its first constitutional referendum in decades. Voters were asked whether they approved a package of structural reforms to the 1972 Constitution, including the establishment of a bicameral parliament, term limits for the Prime Minister and President, and strengthened judicial independence.

The result was decisive: 68.59% voted in favour of reform. Voter turnout reached approximately 50%, notable given the country's political turbulence in the preceding 18 months. The referendum represented the culmination of a reform process that began with the July Uprising of 2024 and the formation of the interim government under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

The approved reforms authorise the interim government to proceed with drafting amendments across several key areas: parliamentary structure, executive power, judicial appointment, electoral oversight, and fundamental rights protections.

The Bangladesh Constitution was adopted on 4 November 1972, barely a year after independence. It established four fundamental principles: nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism. Over the following five decades, 17 amendments reshaped the document substantially — some restoring democratic norms, others consolidating executive power.

The 4th Amendment (1975) introduced a one-party presidential system under BAKSAL, dismantling the parliamentary framework. The 5th Amendment (1979) validated martial law and military rule. The 8th Amendment (1988) declared Islam the state religion. The 12th Amendment (1991) restored the parliamentary system. The 15th Amendment (2011) removed the caretaker government provision and strengthened ruling party power.

The 2026 reforms represent the most significant structural overhaul since 1972, attempting to address the concentration of power that successive amendments enabled while preserving the Constitution's core commitment to fundamental rights and democratic governance.

Following the July 2024 uprising that ended the previous government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed Chief Adviser of the interim administration. The Yunus government assumed responsibility for steering the reform process while preparing the country for free and fair elections under the new constitutional framework.

The interim government convened the six reform commissions, facilitated the multi-party consultations that produced the July Charter, and organised the February 2026 referendum. Its stated mandate is to implement the approved reforms, establish the institutional infrastructure for the bicameral parliament, and conduct elections to transfer power to an elected government.

The transition timeline remains a subject of political debate, with most stakeholders expecting elections to take place by late 2026 or early 2027, once the new electoral framework is operational.