Staff Reporter :
National Citizen Party (NCP) will not take registration without getting the Shapla, party’s chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said on Thursday.
“The NCP will not take registration without the Shapla, and the party’s registration will not be on any other symbol,” Nasiruddin Patwary said after a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) at the Election Commission office in response to questions from journalists.
Nasiruddin Patwary said that there are no legal or political obstacles regarding the NCP requesting the Shapla symbol. So far, no political party has objected. In this context, he accused the EC of making decisions under the influence of a “third force” and claimed that other conspiracies surrounding the elections are underway.
He expressed hope that these issues would become clear within this month, after which the NCP would consider the resignation of the EC. He further said that discussions regarding the symbol were fruitful and positive. “We spoke for about two and a half hours on various issues, of which the CEC remained silent for two hours. We appreciate his patience. However, he did not answer most of our questions,” he added.
Nasiruddin Patwary reiterated that the Shapla symbol now represents the NCP before the people. Only the people can decide whether the NCP will get it. He also noted that they had already submitted seven samples of the Shapla, and the EC could provide the symbol in any format if required.
Criticizing the EC’s rigid stance on the symbol, he questioned why the EC has no problem giving symbols like the paddy sheaf, star, or golden fiber, yet there is an issue with the Shapla.
At the same time, he raised questions about the transparency and impartiality of the current commission’s work. For instance, many EC decisions are published on the front pages of certain newspapers even though they are not officially announced by the CEC or any commissioner.
Expressing concern, he asked how confidential constitutional documents reach newspapers. He suggested that these leaks might be a threat to the security of the state of Bangladesh and believed that the information is being provided by the commission, possibly in exchange for favors or interests. He warned that if such conspiracies continue, the NCP will not remain idle and urged journalists to question the EC and trace the sources of these conspiracies.
He also stated that if the Shapla symbol is not given and the EC’s neutrality is not ensured, the NCP will once again launch movements for rights, similar to the quota movement. He added that even if he dies while defending state institutions, he would accept that death with a smile.
Earlier, a nearly two-and-a-half-hour discussion took place between the CEC A. M. M. Nasir Uddin and three top NCP leaders. Along with Nasiruddin Patwary, NCP joint secretary Zahidul Islam Musa and joint convener Khaled Saifullah were present.
After the meeting, Khaled Saifullah said they mainly discussed three issues: the voting age limit, expatriate voting, and objections regarding the registration of the Bangladesh National League, in addition to clarifying the party’s position regarding the Shapla symbol.
He added that according to the EC’s guidelines, only those who will be 18 by October 31 are eligible to vote, but the NCP has demanded that those who turn 18 on the day of voting should also be allowed to vote. Therefore, the relevant laws and regulations should be amended. He noted, “This generation is creating new history today.”
