Bangladesh's interim government has announced an upcoming referendum on constitutional reforms — but the format has sparked widespread confusion and criticism from voters who say the all-or-nothing structure undermines genuine democratic consultation.
The referendum asks citizens to vote yes or no on an 84-point charter covering everything from electoral systems to minority rights, judicial independence to religious principles. Voters cannot approve some points while rejecting others. It's take-all or reject-all.
"How can anyone agree with 84 different proposals on 84 different topics?" asked Tasneem Ahmed, a university student in Dhaka. "Some points I support completely. Others I strongly oppose. But I can only vote yes or no for everything? That's not consultation. That's a formality."
A billion people aren't a statistic — they're a billion stories. And Bangladesh's 170 million people deserve the chance to have their voices heard on constitutional changes — not forced into binary choices on complex, unrelated issues.
What's in the 84 Points
The charter, developed by various political and civil society groups following recent political upheaval, addresses fundamental questions about Bangladesh's governance. Points range from the structure of parliament to protections for religious minorities, from anti-corruption measures to the balance of power between president and prime minister.
Individually, many proposals have broad support. Judicial independence measures poll well. So do anti-corruption provisions and minority protections. But packaging them together with more controversial items — particularly those touching on religious identity and secularism — creates impossible choices for voters.
"I support judicial reforms in points 23-28, but I completely disagree with the language around state religion in point 7," said Anjali Das, a lawyer in Chittagong. "How do I vote? Either way, I'm endorsing things I oppose."
Democracy Theatre or Genuine Reform
Critics argue the referendum format is designed to produce a yes vote regardless of genuine public opinion. By bundling popular reforms with contentious ones, the government can claim democratic legitimacy for the entire package while avoiding uncomfortable debates on specific controversial points.
"This is democracy theatre," said Dr. Ali Riaz, a political scientist who studies Bangladeshi governance. "Real constitutional reform requires issue-by-issue deliberation, public debate, and the ability to accept some changes while rejecting others. Packaging everything together short-circuits that process."
The format also makes informed voting nearly impossible. How many citizens will read and understand all 84 points before voting? Early surveys suggest most voters are familiar with a handful of high-profile items but unaware of the full charter's contents.
Concerns About Minority Rights
Particular concern has emerged from minority communities — Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and indigenous groups — who fear that controversial points about religious identity could pass bundled with unrelated reforms.
Bangladesh's constitution currently declares Islam the state religion while guaranteeing religious freedom. Some charter points propose strengthening Islamic identity in governance. Others propose stronger secular protections. Both cannot pass, but voters must choose the entire package.
"Minority rights shouldn't be packaged with unrelated issues," said Rana Dasgupta, a Hindu community leader. "Our fundamental protections deserve separate, serious consideration, not to be bundled in a yes-or-no referendum on 84 different things."
International Democratic Standards
Constitutional law experts note that international best practices for referendums recommend separating unrelated issues, allowing voters to express nuanced preferences rather than forcing binary choices on bundled questions.
"Look at how Switzerland conducts referendums," said Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, a governance expert. "Each issue is voted on separately. Citizens can support some reforms while rejecting others. That's genuine consultation. This is asking people to swallow everything or reject everything."
The all-or-nothing format also creates strategic voting problems. Voters who strongly support some provisions may vote yes despite opposing others, or vice versa. The result won't reflect actual public opinion on any individual issue.
What Happens Next
The referendum is scheduled for the coming weeks. Civil society groups are calling for the government to either separate the points into individual votes or at least group them thematically — governance reforms separate from religious identity questions, for example.
The interim government, however, has defended the format, arguing that the charter represents an integrated vision for Bangladesh's future that cannot be picked apart.
"These reforms are interconnected," a government spokesman said. "You cannot implement some without others. The package must be accepted or rejected as a whole."
Voters, meanwhile, remain frustrated by the impossible choice.
"I want to help shape my country's future," said Tasneem. "But this referendum doesn't let me do that. It just asks me to rubber-stamp someone else's complete vision or reject everything. That's not democracy."
