The High Court today set tomorrow for delivering orders on two separate writ petitions challenging the legality of the Referendum Ordinance and July National Charter.

The bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Md Anowarul Islam set the date for passing orders after hearing arguments from the lawyers concerned on the petitions.

Lawyers Ahsanul Karim, Syed Mamun Mahbub, Jyotirmoy Barua, Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, Gazi Touhidul Islam and Md Nazmus Sakib placed arguments in support of the writ petitions while lawyers Mohammod Hossain Lipu and Mohammad Shishir Manir opposed the petitions on behalf of National Citizen Party and Jamaat-e-Islami respectively and Acting Attorney General Md Arshadur Rouf and Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque represented the state during the hearing in a packed courtroom.

Supreme Court lawyers Gazi Md Mahbub Alam and Chowdhury Md Redwan E Khuda recently submitted the writ petitions as public interest litigation, praying to the HC to issue a rule asking the respondents to explain why the Referendum Ordinance, 2025 and July National Charter (Constitution Amendment) Implementation Order, 2025 should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

In the petition, they prayed to the HC to restrain the respondents from giving effect to any act arising out of or in connection with the Referendum Ordinance.

They said in the petitions that there is no provision of referendum and July National Charter in the constitution.

The July National Charter 2025 is a major reform initiative introduced by the interim government following the 2024 July-August mass uprising, with the stated aim of preventing a return to authoritarian rule.

Signed on October 17 last year by more than 20 political parties, the charter proposes 84 reforms, including 47 that would require amendments to the constitution.

Among its key provisions are a 10-year limit on a prime minister’s tenure and expanded powers for the president, part of a broader plan to establish what supporters describe as a “Second Republic”.

Other proposals focus on strengthening judicial independence, reforming the electoral system, increasing women’s representation, and enhancing protections for fundamental rights.

The reforms were put to a referendum alongside parliamentary elections on February 12, where the “Yes” vote prevailed with a turnout of 60.26%.