NN ONLINE:
Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed stated on Tuesday that the National Citizen Party (NCP) will not be permitted to use the Shapla (water lily) as its electoral symbol. The NCP must choose an alternative symbol and notify the EC by October 19; if they do not, the Commission will allocate a different symbol at the time of registration.
Speaking to journalists at the EC building in Agargaon, Dhaka, on October 14, Akhtar Ahmed outlined the requirement. The party is also required to submit its request for an alternative symbol by the 19th. If the NCP declines registration without the Shapla, that decision rests with them.
The EC has presented the NCP with a list of fifty possible symbols to choose from, including items such as almirah, bed, ostrich, kite, cup and saucer, spectacles, building, brinjal, rechargeable lamp, computer, jug, ship, tube well, tiffin carrier, table, table clock, telephone, refrigerator, tabla, heron, rooster, pen, watermelon, flute, gourd, pitcher, prawn, plate, bench, lychee, swing, butterfly, balloon, football, flower tub, stool, bucket, banana, electric fan, mug, microphone, peacock, mobile phone, conch, sewing machine, sofa, suitcase, deer, duck, and helicopter.
NCP Joint Member Secretary Zahirul Islam Musa told , “We are steadfast on the Shapla. The EC has no right to allocate symbols in this manner.” Regarding the EC’s plan to offer an alternative symbol, Musa added, “This arbitrariness by the EC will be legally challenged. In our recent meeting, it was also decided that we will not accept any symbol other than Shapla.”
