Staff Reporter:Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has announced that a referendum will be held on the same day as the national election.
He made the announcement during the address to the nation on Thursday afternoon.
The Chief Adviser’s speech focuses on the implementation of the July National Charter and the national election and referendum.
Chief Adviser said, “We have made the decision after considering all aspects that the referendum will be held on the same day as the upcoming national parliamentary election. That means, like the national polls, the referendum will also take place on a day in the first half of February.”
“This will in no way hinder the goals of reform; rather, it will make the election more festive and cost-effective. To facilitate the holding of the referendum, necessary legislation will be enacted at the appropriate time,” he said.
In a 20-minute televised address , Yunus said there will be one question for the referendum seeking people verdict on July Charter implementation order. But this question will have four parts, he added.
To balance conflicting demands, Yunus announced that the 100-member upper house will be formed through proportional representation, based on each party’s share of votes in the national polls.
He said that the work of issuing implementation order is already in the last stage and waiting for the notification of gazette.
The July National Charter, signed on October 17 by 25 parties including BNP and Jamaat, stipulates that any party submitting dissenting views must include them in its manifesto and may act on them if it wins the polls. However, the National Consensus Commission, in its October 28 recommendations, dropped the section on dissent.
