Bangladesh’s Election Commission reported that 60.2% of voters approved a national referendum package of democratic reforms held alongside the February 12 parliamentary elections.

The result gives the transition government a voter-backed mandate to implement institutional changes rather than relying on executive decrees, reducing the risk of reversal in parliament. The package’s provisions—expanded women’s representation and opposition control of deputy speaker and key committee chair elections—reallocate parliamentary power and can change how budgets, oversight, and legislation are negotiated. Parties and civil-society groups now need to adjust candidate selection, coalition planning, and parliamentary strategy to comply with the new rules in the next legislative cycle.