Despite deep disagreements over the timing of the referendum and other issues, major political parties agreed on one point yesterday -- the proposed four-part referendum question is too difficult for voters to understand.

Although the BNP is not fully satisfied with the government’s decisions on key issues regarding the July charter’s implementation, it has chosen a softer stance over the matter, ruling out any stern move for now. 

An opinion piece titled "BNP's notes of dissent show that old habits die hard," published on October 29, 2025, in The Daily Star, has caught our attention.

The government is considering holding the national election and the referendum on the same day

Failing to resolve differences over the proposed July charter in a one-week timeframe, major political parties urged the interim government to mediate

Although the exact timing of the referendum is yet to be decided, it is almost certain that there will be one on the July National Charter in one form or the other.

The parties remain deeply divided over when the referendum should be held

Can the vision for 'New Bangladesh' ignore the poor, farmers, workers, youth, women, or employment and climate crises?

The July National Charter, born out of a compact among political parties, proposes a raft of constitutional reforms to reinvigorate Bangladesh’s parliament, which has remained weak and failed to function as an effective check on executive authority.

The July National Charter, forged in the wake of the 2024 mass uprising, seeks to reshape Bangladesh’s constitution, as it proposes extensive reforms aimed at strengthening democracy and accountability.

A pervasive sense of mistrust, fuelled more by political calculation than by reality, has paralysed the charter’s progress.

If the charter turns out to be a document that serves only the majority and the powerful, and if it is imposed upon the rest, it will be a huge disappointment.

Bolivia’s election was imperfect too, but its institutions offered citizens a visible, comprehensible path to closure.