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 60%. The referendum was held simultaneously with the 13th parliamentary election, and represented the culmination of a reform process that began following the political transition of July 2024 and the formation of the interim government under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

The approved reforms cover several key areas: parliamentary structure, executive power, judicial appointment, electoral oversight, and fundamental rights protections. The newly elected 13th Parliament is now tasked with enacting these changes as a Constitutional Reform Council.

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, reflecting the country's evolving political landscape and constitutional development.

The 4th Amendment (1975) introduced a presidential system under BAKSAL to strengthen national governance and unity. The 5th Amendment (1979) validated martial law provisions. The 8th Amendment (1988) declared Islam the state religion. The 12th Amendment (1991) restored the parliamentary system. The 15th Amendment (2011) restored secularism as a state principle, prohibited unconstitutional changes of government, and restructured the electoral framework.

The 2026 reforms represent a significant structural change since 1972, building upon the constitutional framework established through successive amendments while seeking to strengthen institutional governance and democratic processes.

Following the political transition of July 2024, Muhammad Yunus was appointed Chief Adviser of an interim administration. The constitutional basis for this arrangement has been the subject of significant legal debate. The 1972 Constitution — particularly after the 15th Amendment removed the caretaker government provision — does not explicitly provide for this form of transitional governance. The interim government relied on the Doctrine of Necessity and a broad interpretation of Article 106, though constitutional scholars have debated whether this article authorises the formation of a government rather than merely providing advisory opinions.

During its tenure, the interim government convened six reform commissions, facilitated multi-party consultations that produced the July Charter, issued 133 ordinances, and organised the February 2026 referendum alongside the 13th parliamentary election.

On 12 February 2026, voters simultaneously elected the 13th Parliament and approved the constitutional referendum. The BNP secured a two-thirds supermajority with 209 of 297 seats, and Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Prime Minister on 17 February 2026. Of the 133 ordinances issued during the interim period, 91 have since been converted into Acts of Parliament by the 13th Jatiya Sangsad within the constitutionally mandated 30-day timeframe. Implementation of the approved reforms now rests with the elected parliament, which is tasked with functioning as a Constitutional Reform Council.