Role of Government in Referendum

Hakikul Islam Khokan

On February 12, 2026, the 13th National Assembly election and referendum will be held. The government has already taken various steps to campaign for the 'yes' vote in the referendum. The chief advisor of the interim government, various ministries including the government's culture ministry are conducting these campaigns. According to the instructions of the government, banners in favor of the 'yes' vote are being seen in front of the bank branches in the capital. Khabar Ibn News.

Government instructions have been issued to teachers of schools, colleges and madrasas to campaign for 'Yes' in the referendum. The same instructions have been given to bank officials.

These campaigns mention the details of what you will get if you vote 'yes'. And if you vote 'no', you will get nothing, it is also mentioned in the campaign.

In view of this, various discussions and criticisms are going on in the legal arena, political and social platforms and online about the role of the government in the referendum.

Govt can't campaign for any party: ZI Khan Panna, Senior Advocate Supreme Court

The government is supposed to be neutral in the elections. The government cannot campaign for any side. But they took a side. The government is campaigning for the 'yes' vote. It is illegal. But this government does not have the price of legal and illegal. Those who are supposed to be neutral, means the government is supposed to be neutral, but they are not.

The election campaign is scheduled to start from January 22. But they have already started campaigning for one side. This is a clear violation.

The government is campaigning for a 'yes' vote with people's money. It is totally unethical. Because the government is campaigning with people's money, there is also the money of 'No' supporters. That means the government is campaigning against him with his money.

The government then asked teachers and bank officials to campaign for a 'yes' vote. But on polling day they are supposed to take neutral vote.

This referendum is about safeguarding the country's future democracy: Munira Khan, president of FEMA, an election analyst and election watcher.This referendum is a completely new experience for Bangladesh. We have never seen such a plebiscite with a national election. Referendum is the direct opinion of the people - this concept is coming to us anew. As far as I understand, this referendum is not being held for personal or political interest; It is in the interest of the people of the whole country.

In the past referendums in this country, there was some political motive. But this time the matter is different. After a big movement, the interim government came in, and they sat down with all the political parties and discussed reforms for a long time. No one came here by force, no one objected. All parties have given their thoughts, opinions, wisdom.

This reform has cost the country a lot of time, money and labor. Now the question is - who will present these reforms to the people? The fact is, those who have done it will bring it up. No one but the interim government can do it. So there is a responsibility here. If they think this reform is good for the country, then it is their duty to explain it to the people. There is no political interest in it. They will go away by themselves after some time. They just want the hard work not to fail.

Campaigning on one side of the government is illegal and immoral: Manzil Morsed, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court

The government is campaigning for a 'yes' vote in the upcoming referendum. It is disgusting. Clearly illegal and unethical. I say illegal for a few reasons. The government is supposed to organize fair elections. They are not supposed to campaign for any side. When the government tells people to vote yes/no – it means it will be ineffective. But if the government campaigns for one side, then there is no neutral or influence-free election. There have been referendums in the country before, by holding elections the government has asked whether you like or dislike such and such an issue?-Answer by yes/no vote. But the government never campaigned for any side. The way the government is now campaigning for a 'yes' vote is, in a word, despicable.As a result, the 'yes' vote in the referendum will be questionable. The results of this vote can be challenged. The government has created that opportunity. There is no rule of law in the country during the interim government. So maybe no one is taking action against this action of the government. But at some point anyone can take action against it. We saw that in 1971. Saw in 1990. Last seen in 2024.

Another reason to say it's illegal is that teachers or bank officials are asked to campaign for 'Yes'. But the vote will also be accepted through them. That means votes will be taken only by those who campaigned for 'Yes'. It has also lost its neutrality.

Again, in the schedule given by the Election Commission, it has been said that the election campaign can be carried out from January 22. But the government has already started campaigning for 'Yes'. So where is the level playing field! Apart from that, the government is directly breaking the law. It may be said here that the government is campaigning on behalf of the people, so it is not illegal. But whoever is in favor of 'No' vote, he is also a part of the people. This campaign of the government is not for him, but directly against him. So it is another illegal step of the government to run the campaign before the fixed date of January 22 on the pretext of people's work.

And I say unethical, because the government is campaigning for 'Yes' with people's money. But those who support the 'no' vote, they also have a share in this money. That means the government is campaigning for "Yes" with the money of "No" voters. So it is unethical.

'Yes' or 'No' – that decision should rest with the voter: Jasmine Tully, former Additional Secretary, Election Commission and Election Analyst

After the announcement of the schedule, now we are at a stage where the Election Commission is working from its place, the government is also doing it. But the referendum is a little different. Here is a yes-no vote. The question is, can the government take any side in this yes-no vote?

This is a very complicated subject for me. Because the reality is that this reform process has been initiated by this government. From the formation of the commission to the organization of discussions, the government has taken responsibility for everything. At one stage when there was no consensus on the question of referendum,Then the government also told the political parties. But they said, it is not possible in such a short time. In the end, what will be the ballot, what will be the questions - these decisions have also been taken by the government.

Because of this, sometimes it seems that it is the product of the government. Now the main question is how that crop will be presented to the people. According to me, the government can explain the benefits, the positive aspects of the reforms. Can say - if this reform can be useful in the future. But to directly say that vote 'yes' or vote 'no' – that is not the right thing to do. Because if the government is openly campaigning for 'Yes', then neutrality will be questioned. There may be accusations of using government machinery to influence the vote. The best would be – the government would provide the information,will explain and leave the decision entirely up to the voter.