Bangladesh Referendum: Unity's Illusion Masks Irreversible Division

• Bangladesh faces deepening divisions as a February 12, 2026 referendum on the July National Charter approaches, following the 2024 upheaval that toppled Sheikh Hasina's rule.
• The interim government under Muhammad Yunus, formed after negotiations involving the army and students, aims for fair elections but has overseen a period of insecurity and rising communal tensions.
• The referendum, bundling 84 reform proposals into a single question, is criticized for unconstitutionality and for disenfranchising the banned Awami League, while Islamist forces like Jamaat-e-Islami resurface strongly.
• Jamaat-e-Islami's resurgence, its leaders' proximity to Yunus's administration, and its student wing's success in university polls highlight a troubling shift towards Islamist influence.
• The process risks legitimizing fundamentalism, eroding Bangladesh's secular fabric, and has broader implications for regional stability, with potential for increased anti-India sentiment and external power interests.