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Published : 30 Jan 2026, 12:18 AM
A Facebook post by BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh on the referendum on implementing the July National Charter has sparked discussion and criticism across social media.
In the post, Asif said he had recently learnt that the referendum would serve to carve Cumilla and Faridpur into divisions.
His message was meant to underscore the confusion surrounding the referendum.
The referendum is structured in a way that seeks approval for 84 major reforms with a single answer, which Asif described as nothing short of “trickery”.
He also described the claim that a “Yes” vote would open the door to building a new Bangladesh as “misleading and dishonest”.
The country is set to hold a referendum for the fourth time since independence. Nearly 130 million voters will cast their vote.
On Feb 12, in addition to the ballot for voting for a candidate in the parliamentary polls, voters will be given an extra ballot paper for the referendum.
It will read: “Do you express your consent to the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025, and to the following proposals on constitutional reform as outlined in the July National Charter?” (Yes/No)
The referendum ballot will include four issues covering the formation of a caretaker government and constitutional bodies, the creation of a bicameral parliament, implementation of 30 agreed constitutional reforms, and other reforms outlined in the July National Charter.
Voters will give their opinion by casting a single “Yes” or “No” vote on all four issues together.
Although Asif cited 84 major reforms, the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) clarified in a photo card that only 47 proposals related to constitutional reform are part of the referendum.
The remaining 37 proposals, including the creation of Cumilla and Faridpur divisions, are not part of the referendum, the PIB said.
The PIB photocard also noted that Asif Saleh was previously a member of the Awami League research cell CRI’s advisory board.
