Different colours will be used for the ballot papers in the national elections and referendum, which are scheduled to be held on the same date in the first half of February, said Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhter Ahmed on Tuesday.

The ballot papers for the national elections will be plain white in colour while those for the referendum will have any other colour, the EC secretary said at a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

Addressing the briefing, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the gazette on the ordinance on July Charter implementation referendum will be issued before Thursday.

Earlier in the day, the advisory council approved the ordinance on the referendum. The referendum will be held to gather public support for constitutional amendment proposals enshrined in the July Charter.