Professor Ali Riaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, has stated that the citizens of Bangladesh have clearly and unequivocally cast their mandate in favor of the constitutional reform proposals of the July National Charter.

He noted that this verdict makes it evident that the vast majority of Bangladeshis no longer wish to return to the old system or maintain the status quo; instead, they demand systemic change and state reform.

He made these remarks during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium on Saturday morning (February 14).

Quoting the address made to the nation by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus prior to the referendum, Ali Riaz said that a national transformation can never be sustainable through unilateral decisions or individual rule. "The people are the true strength of the state.

The ultimate legitimacy of change comes from the consent of the people. Therefore, providing citizens with the opportunity to directly participate in decision-making is the bedrock of the democratic path.

To this end, we organized the referendum so that the people could directly express their views on the direction of future reforms. The people responded to my call, and the public mandate has come out in favor of reform," he said.

Ali Riaz emphasized that the mandate given by the people in the referendum should not be viewed merely through the lens of numbers. He described this verdict as a recognition of the responsibility bestowed by those who sacrificed their lives, those who were injured, and those who fought fearlessly during the July-August mass uprising of 2024.

He further stated that this referendum is an expression of the public’s desire to establish an institutional framework that ensures there is no repeat of the bloodshed, the tears of mothers, and the cries of the persecuted witnessed over the past 16 years.

He noted that the will of the sovereign people, which first emerged in 2024, has been reaffirmed through this referendum, and these sentiments must not be forgotten.

Ali Riaz concluded by saying that the responsibility for implementing the clear public mandate for reform lies with the political parties. He noted that all political parties are committed to state reform.

He called upon the ruling party, the parties represented in the National Parliament and the Constitution Reform Commission, as well as those outside of parliament, to ensure the implementation of this mandate through united dialogue.