Bangladesh to hold referendum on democratic reforms: Yunus

Bangladesh will hold a referendum on a landmark democratic reform charter on the same day as its parliamentary election scheduled for February 2026, interim leader Muhammad Yunus said on Thursday.

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Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said he had inherited a “completely broken down” political system after taking over following an uprising last year.

The interim leader of the South Asian nation of 170 million people has argued that the reform charter, which he has championed as the cornerstone of his legacy, is vital to prevent a return to authoritarian rule.

“We have decided... that the referendum will be held on the same day as the next parliamentary elections,” Yunus said in a national address.

“This will not hinder the goal of reform in any way. The elections will be more festive and affordable.”