In a televised address, Yunus said the advisory council had approved the Constitutional Reform Implementation Order, clearing the way for its gazette notification. The proposed charter includes a shift to a bicameral legislature and strengthened judicial independence, which Yunus described as “a historic step toward a new Bangladesh.”
The political climate, however, remains volatile. Earlier in the day, protesters set fire to the headquarters of the banned Awami League in central Dhaka, marking the second such attack since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5 last year. Witnesses told local media that a small group piled wood and paper on the fourth floor before igniting it.
The unrest comes ahead of the November 17 verdict in a high-profile crimes-against-humanity case against Hasina. The International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka confirmed the verdict date on Thursday, prompting heavy security deployment around the court complex and other key installations. Prosecutors have sought the death penalty, accusing the former prime minister of murder, failure to prevent violence, and broader abuses during last year’s nationwide unrest.
Hasina, who fled to India following the August uprising, has dismissed the charges as politically motivated. Bangladesh has requested her deportation, but New Delhi has extended her visa.
The tribunal’s proceedings and the upcoming twin polls mark a critical juncture for Bangladesh, which has been navigating political instability since massive student-led protests over the quota system triggered the collapse of Hasina’s long-standing government.
