Staff Reporter :
BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday said the party does not support the Consensus Commission’s proposal to hold a referendum ahead of the upcoming national election, reaffirming that BNP’s stance on the issue remains unchanged.
“BNP disagrees with the Consensus Commission’s recommendation to conduct a referendum before the national election,” he told reporters after BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s hour-long meeting with British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cook at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan.
He reiterated that BNP’s position has been consistent from the outset-that both the national election and the referendum must take place on the same day, using two separate ballots.
“This is crystal clear. There’s no reason to reopen the debate. Whatever others may say or suggest, that’s their concern, not ours. For BNP, the matter is settled,” Khosru asserted.
The BNP Standing Committee member further emphasized that the party remains firm in its decision: the referendum and the national election will be held simultaneously, each with separate ballot papers.
“There is absolutely no room for deviation from this position. BNP’s stance has been the same from the beginning and will remain unchanged in the future,” he added.
Referring to the Commission’s suggestion, Khosru said those making such recommendations are not voters in Bangladesh. “It is the political parties that participate in the election. All decisions must be made through national consensus. Any proposal made outside that consensus is solely the concern of those making it,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the National Consensus Commission (NCC) proposed that the interim government hold a referendum after issuing the July National Charter (Constitution Amendment) Implementation Order 2025-but before the next national election.
Proper implementation
Commission for the implementation of the July National Charter are effectively carried out.
Speaking at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Tuesday while receiving the Commission’s recommendations, Yunus described the occasion as a “historic day” in the nation’s political transformation.
“It began with the uprising, then came the July Declaration and then the July Charter. Today marks another important milestone: the process of implementing the July Charter. This is a moment of historic change,” he said in his welcome address.
He stressed that the nation’s progress now depends on following the path laid out by the Commission. “If we can properly follow the process outlined by the Consensus Commission and move forward with the work, Bangladesh will be free from its past.
That is the essence — we want to be free from the past and engage in building a new Bangladesh. The implementation of this charter will show us the way forward,” Yunus said.
During the ceremony, National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz formally handed over the Commission’s recommendations on implementing the July Charter to the chief adviser.
Other members of the Commission and several advisers of the interim government were also present.
Expressing gratitude to the Commission members, Yunus said, “I thank Professor Ali Riaz and his colleagues for their hard work and dedication in preparing these recommendations.”
The event marked a major step toward translating the July Charter — a document jointly endorsed by political parties following the August transition — into a roadmap for constitutional and institutional reform.
Dhaka, Islamabad
Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry said.
The visit comes as part of a three-day official trip to Bangladesh, during which Minister Malik led the Pakistan delegation at the 9th Meeting of the Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) held in Dhaka on 27 October 2025.
During the meeting, Adviser Hossain welcomed the Pakistani Minister and congratulated him on the successful conclusion of the JEC session, highlighting its role in identifying new avenues for economic cooperation and injecting fresh momentum into trade and investment between the two countries.
Both officials expressed satisfaction over recent positive engagements, including the visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to Bangladesh in August 2025.
They exchanged views on bilateral issues of mutual interest and emphasised the importance of bolstering trade and economic collaboration.
Regular business-to-business interactions were noted as a key factor in further strengthening economic ties.
The discussion concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, with a shared determination to advance partnerships that will benefit the people of Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Bangladesh reaffirms
Christensen said the United States “supports Bangladesh in its journey toward a bright and democratic future” and looked forward to building strong relations with both the current interim government and its democratically elected successor.
Foreign Adviser also stated that the journalists who visited India recently should have asked why India has not raised any questions about Bangladesh’s elections over the past 15 years.
Recently, members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) met with India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishra in Delhi.
During the meeting, he had mentioned that India would examine the legal aspects before sending back Sheikh Hasina.
Responding to whether India had given any information on this, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said, “We requested Sheikh Hasina’s return strictly following legal procedures. They did not provide any answer. Let them look at it from their side.”
He added, “However, I have an observation regarding those of you who attended.
Since you raised the question, I will say this. India’s Foreign Secretary himself posed a question to you, saying that they want a transparent and impartial election in Bangladesh in the future.
But you should have asked why, over the past 15 years, you (India) never raised this question. Were the previous elections proper? He himself gave you the opportunity, but you did not ask the question.”
When asked about the controversy surrounding the newly nominated UN Resident Representative for Bangladesh, replacing Gwen Lewis, the adviser said, “What I can tell you is that no one will come here to create problems in Bangladesh. I have nothing more to say beyond this.”
On the domestic front, Touhid Hossain dismissed claims of foreign pressure regarding the participation of the Awami League in the upcoming inclusive national elections scheduled to be held in early February next year.
Speaking to reporters, he said donor countries and development partners have no concerns over the election timeline.
He confirmed that the Election Commission will invite foreign observers but will avoid including anyone likely to generate unnecessary controversy.
He also addressed speculation regarding the visit of prominent Islamic scholar Dr Zakir Naik, clarifying that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no official knowledge of the planned visit to Dhaka on 28 November.
Foreign adviser noted that any arrangements for foreign visitors or events will be handled independently by the organisers.
Italy contributes
Rohingya refugees’ most urgent needs and provide vital protection against the challenges and threats of life in the world’s largest refugee camp. At a time of growing humanitarian strain, community-based protection services are essential to preserving dignity and self-reliance in a fragile setting,” he said.
“Since the beginning of this dire humanitarian emergency, Italy has supported the efforts of the international community within the framework of the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, to help ensure dignity for Rohingya refugees, as well as hope for the future.
In this respect, we welcome Bangladesh’s commitment to engaging with relevant stakeholders and seeking a solution to this protracted crisis,” said Antonio Alessandro, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh.
Now entering its eighth year, the Rohingya crisis remains one of the world’s most protracted refugee situations. Some 1.16 million refugees continue to live in the densely populated camps of Cox’s Bazar and on the island of Bhasan Char, where they are almost entirely reliant on humanitarian assistance for food, shelter, clean water, healthcare, and other basic needs.
Among them, an estimated 150,000 Rohingya found safety in the camps since early 2024, after having been forced to flee continuous violence and human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, deepening humanitarian needs in Bangladesh.
Italy’s renewed commitment comes as global humanitarian funding continues to fall, forcing aid agencies to make increasingly difficult choices on which needs to meet – and potentially losing hard-won gains in refugee health, well-being and self-reliance.
Upcoming current political context. He said, “According to the constitutional provisions, a caretaker government is to be formed within 15 days of the dissolution of Parliament.
However, there is currently no Parliament — it was dissolved more than a year ago, and the country is now being governed by an interim administration.
Considering these circumstances, even if the Supreme Court restores the caretaker system, it cannot be applied in the upcoming election.”
Earlier in the day, Advocate Shishir Monir completed his arguments before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami in the ongoing hearings over the restoration of the caretaker government system.
The seven-member full bench, led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, began the day’s hearing at 9:40 am.
The hearing on the appeal for reinstating the caretaker government began on 21 October.
The second and third days of the hearing were held on 22 and 23 October, during which Dr Sharif Bhuiyan argued on behalf of petitioner Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, and Barrister Ehsan A Siddiqi presented arguments as an intervenor.
The Supreme Court allowed the appeal on 27 August, following a hearing on the review petitions that sought reconsideration of the 2011 verdict abolishing the caretaker government system.
Subsequently, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, along with five eminent citizens, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and Jamaat Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar, filed appeals seeking the restoration of the system.
The caretaker government system was originally introduced in the Constitution through the 13th Amendment, passed by Parliament in 1996, to ensure neutral elections.
Its legality was challenged in 1998 by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate M. Salim Ullah and others. On 4 August 2004, the High Court declared the system valid and dismissed the petition.
However, the petitioners appealed, and in a landmark verdict on 10 May 2011, a seven-member Appellate Division bench declared the 13th Amendment unconstitutional by a majority opinion.
Following the judgment, Parliament passed the 15th Amendment on 30 June 2011, formally abolishing the caretaker government provision. The related gazette was published on 3 July 2011.
After the political change on 5 August, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, along with Tofail Ahmed, M Hafizuddin Khan, Zubairul Haque Bhuiyan, and Zahra Rahman, filed a review petition seeking reconsideration of the 2011 verdict.
BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir submitted a separate review petition on 16 October, followed by another from Professor Mia Golam Porwar on 23 October last year.
Freedom fighter Md Mofazzal Hossain from Raninagar, Naogaon, also filed a similar petition last year.
The Appellate Division is currently hearing these combined review petitions to determine whether the caretaker government system can be constitutionally restored.
However, legal experts say that even if the verdict favors reinstatement, its practical application before the 13th parliamentary election remains highly unlikely.
