গণভোটে ‘হ্যাঁ’ এর জয়, সরকার কেন চায়? | Referendum | The Press

Описание: Referendum Explained: Why the Government Wants a “YES” Victory

A controversial debate has erupted in Bangladesh ahead of the February 12 national election, as the interim government pushes hard for a “YES” outcome in the upcoming referendum. The question now dominating politics is simple: why does the Yunus government want a YES victory so badly?

The issue intensified after online outlet The Post published a viral piece claiming that a YES win could allow Dr. Muhammad Yunus’ interim government to remain in power for six additional months after the election, as elected MPs would act as a constitutional reform assembly. The Prime Adviser’s Press Wing later dismissed this claim as false, but the narrative had already spread across public discourse, triggering suspicion and heated debate.

Beyond the viral rumor, the political reality is more strategic. For the government, the referendum is not just a vote — it is the mandate for the July Revolution’s institutional reforms. Dr. Yunus has publicly argued that a YES vote is the “key to building a new Bangladesh,” enabling structural changes designed to prevent future authoritarian concentration of power.

Under the ballot proposal — officially the “July National Charter Implementation Order 2025” — citizens are being asked to approve major constitutional changes including: the restoration of caretaker election-time governments, a bicameral parliament, term limits for prime ministers (maximum two terms or 10 years), expansion of judicial independence, and guaranteed opposition representation such as a Deputy Speaker from the rival bloc. Supporters argue these reforms could reduce executive dominance and prevent another strongman-style government.


Legal controversy also surrounds the campaign. The Election Commission maintains that because the reform package is government-sponsored, the government can advocate for it. But constitutional lawyers counter that legal permission does not erase the ethical issue of state-backed political influence. Referendums, they argue, must rely on free persuasion, not administrative mobilization.

So what does the government gain from a YES victory? Three things stand out:
First, legitimacy. A YES vote validates the July political transition as a popular mandate.
Second, continuity. It allows the reform agenda to continue without disruption by the coming parliament.
Third, insulation. By locking structural rules before new power players take office, the interim government reduces the risk of rollback by future political elites.

A NO victory would not topple the government instantly, but it would create a legitimacy vacuum — weakening the moral and political foundation of the July reforms, and potentially reopening the path for old-style confrontational party politics.

The biggest question for voters is no longer whether they like Yunus or dislike him. The real question is whether they want to approve these proposed systemic reforms at all. The referendum is technically about a charter, but politically about a direction: continuation of the July experiment, or return to pre-July power architecture.


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