July Charter

Objectives

The commitments of the Charter include:^[7][8]

1. Ensuring its full implementation in accordance with public aspirations and sacrifices;
2. Enacting recommendations related to governance, the judiciary, elections, public administration, law enforcement, and anti-corruption through necessary constitutional amendments, legal revisions, or new legislation;
3. Completing these reforms within two years of the formation of a government elected after the Charter's formal adoption;
4. Establishing legal and constitutional safeguards throughout the implementation process;
5. Guaranteeing full legal and constitutional protection for the Charter's contents; and
6. Formally recognizing, within the Constitution, the historical significance of the 2024 pro-democracy movement and popular uprising that led to the Charter.

Signatories

Constitutional changes

If the charter is passed, the following 47 changes will be brought to the constitution:^[15]

• All mother languages spoken in Bangladesh will be recognized as state languages, alongside Bengali.
• "Bangladeshi" will replace "Bengali" as the nationality of the citizens of Bangladesh.
• A two-thirds majority in the proposed lower house and a simple majority in the proposed upper house of the legislature will be required to amend the constitution.
• A national referendum will be required to reform the caretaker government system.
• Articles 7(A) and 7(B) which define constitutional offenses and impose restrictions on constitutional amendments, will be abolished.
• Equality, Human dignity, Social justice, Religious freedom and Harmony will replace Mujibist ideas of Bengali nationalism, Democracy, Socialism and Secularism as fundamental principles.
• Secularism and Freedom of religion will be defined as "coexistence and due dignity of all communities shall be ensured".
• The right to uninterrupted internet service and a right to protect personal information will be added to the fundamental rights.
• Approval from the cabinet members and Leader and Deputy leader of the opposition will be required to declare a state of emergency, replacing the prime minister signature only.
• Fundamental rights will not be curtailed during a state of emergency.
• Presidential elections will be held via secret ballot, and the President will be elected by the members of the lower house.
• The President can independently appoint the heads and members of National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh, Information Commission, Press Council, Law Commission, and Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission, expanding from the prime minister and the chief justice only.
• A two-thirds majority in both houses will be required to impeach the president.
• Presidential pardon will be subject to the consent of the family of the victims.
• One person cannot serve as the prime minister for more than 10 years
• The Caretaker system will be reinstated, and will be formed by the consensus among the ruling party, the main opposition and the second opposition parties.
• Bicameralism will be introduced.
• The Upper House will consist of 100 seats proportionally distributed among the votes of the elected parties in the general election.
• Reserved seats for women in the lower house will be gradually increased up to 100 seats.
• The Deputy Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad will be elected from the opposition party.
• Article 70 will be abolished, which prohibits floor crossing.
• Any major international treaty related to the national security will require approval from both houses.
• Electoral boundary delimitation powers will be taken from the Bangladesh Election Commission and will be vested in a specialized committee set by the parliament.
• The Election Commission will be formed under the supervision of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice.
• The Chief Justice will be appointed from the Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
• Number of the appointed justices in the appellate division will be determined by the needs of the chief justice, and appointment of justices in the high court will be solely vested on the chief justice.
• Full freedom of judiciary will be constitutionally guaranteed, necessary numbers of high court benches will be established in each division, Supreme Judicial Council will be strengthened, and the supreme court will be entrusted with the control of the appointment of lower court judges.
• An Ombudsman will be appointed under the supervision of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Prime Minister, Leaders of Opposition Parties, and the Justices of the Appellate Division.
• Separate committees will be formed comprising opposition parties for the appointment of the Public Service Commission, the appointment of the auditor general and comptroller, and the appointment of the Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman and Commissioner.
• A new article will be added to the constitution calling to prevent the misuse of constitutional powers.

Legal reforms

37 reforms will be brought by amending the existing acts, ordinances, executive orders, and bills:^[15]

• Special rights, limits of rights, and responsibilities of committees and members of parliament will be defined through legislation.
• Reforms brought by the interim government before the general election such law on gerrymandering, mandatory code of conduct for incumbent and former judges, establishment of the supreme court secretariat, formation of an independent criminal investigation service, increase in the manpower of the judiciary, conversion of the National Legal Aid Agency into a directorate, details of assets of judges and supporting staff, digitalization of court management, and issues related to the code of conduct for lawyers will be recognized through legislation.
• An independent and permanent Public Administration Reform Commission to implement public administration reform programs will be formed, additionally the existing Public Service Commission will be divided into Public Service Commission (General), Public Service Commission (Education), and Public Service Commission (Health).
• Comilla Division and Faridpur Division will be formed.

July Charter implementation order

Constitutional referendum

This section is an excerpt from 2026 Bangladeshi constitutional referendum.[edit]

A constitutional referendum took place in Bangladesh on 12 February 2026, alongside the general election.^[18] Voters were asked about the provisions of the July Charter and related amendments to the Constitution of Bangladesh. "July National Charter (Constitutional Amendment) Implementation Order, 2025" were issued for this purpose.^[19]

The referendum propounds reforms to countervail among state institutions — the legislature, executive and judiciary and improve accountability in governance. If the referendum is passed, the newly elected parliament will act as a constituent assembly to enact the changes in the constitution agreed in the charter.^[20][21]

The "Yes" vote passed in the referendum,^[22][23] with 68% votes in favor on a turnout of 60%. The "Yes" vote does not, by itself, change the Constitution; it is a mandate to change the Constitution. It is considered politically binding, not legally binding.^[24]

On 26 February 2026, Bangladesh Election Commission revised referendum results and published a corrected gazette notification.^[25]