Staff Reporter :
The National Citizen Party (NCP) has applied to the Election Commission (EC) seeking inclusion of the “Shapla” (water lily) – in red or white – as an electoral symbol by amending the Electoral Rules, 2008.
In its application, signed by convener Nahid Islam and emailed Wednesday to the EC Secretariat, the party noted that a draft list of 150 symbols was earlier prepared where NCP representatives were assured “Shapla” would be included. The party later applied for registration and sought the symbol in June.
However, media reports on 9 July said the EC excluded “Shapla,” citing its status as a national emblem. NCP countered this as “legally baseless,” arguing that neither the Constitution nor emblem rules bar its use. They pointed out precedents: BNP’s “Sheaf of Paddy,” JSD’s “Star,” the “Jackfruit” (national fruit) for Bangladesh Jatiya Party, and “Golden Fibre” for Trinamool BNP.
The party further alleged bias, saying the CEC rejected “Shapla” because it appears in agency logos – though other parties were given symbols with similar overlaps, such as BNP’s “Sheaf of Paddy” (also in police logo), AB Party’s “Eagle” (air force), and Jamaat’s “Balance Scales” (Supreme Court).
Calling the EC’s stance “discriminatory and arbitrary,” NCP warned it undermines the body’s neutrality and alleged “lobbying by a major party” behind the move. It urged the EC to reconsider and allocate “Shapla,” “White Shapla,” or “Red Shapla” as its symbol.
