Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus announced that the long-discussed national referendum and parliamentary election will be held on the same day in the first half of February 2026. In a televised address to the nation, he said the referendum will focus on implementing the July National Charter, with voters answering a single yes-or-no question on four key issues. The decision follows months of disagreement among political parties, including BNP and Jamaat, over the charter’s provisions and timing. The National Consensus Commission had earlier submitted recommendations on how to implement the charter, but parties failed to reach a unified stance. The interim government, therefore, finalized the decision in a council meeting chaired by Yunus, with President Md. Shahabuddin signing the related order before the announcement.