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DHAKA, Jan 21, 2026 (BSS) - Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S. Murshid today called upon citizens to vote "yes" in the upcoming referendum, saying that a "yes" vote would signify the return of state ownership to the people.

She made the remarks while addressing a press briefing on the referendum and its motivational campaign at the conference room of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in the capital.

"A 'yes' in the referendum means ensuring judicial independence, restoring voting rights, guaranteeing women's security, safeguarding press freedom, protecting the fair rights of farmers and workers and moving forward toward establishing state accountability," she said.

Describing the referendum as a moral and civic responsibility, Sharmeen S. Murshid emphasized that it is not intended to benefit any political party. "This referendum is not in favor of any political party; it is a moral and civic decision," she said.

The adviser noted that although elections had been held in the country over the past 17 years, people's voting rights, judicial independence and freedom of expression were largely absent during that period. 

She further highlighted what she described as a fear-driven system of governance, marked by repression of journalists, enforced disappearances, killings, suppression of dissent, violence against women, impunity for such crimes, and persistent neglect of farmers and workers.

Under such circumstances, she said, the referendum remains the only democratic means to directly seek the people's opinion for the reconstruction of Bangladesh.