NCP calls EC ‘spineless’

Staff Reporter :

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has rejected the Election Commission’s (EC) directive to choose an alternative electoral symbol, accusing the commission of being “spineless” and operating under “institutional autocracy.”

Speaking to reporters after meeting EC Secretary Akhter Ahmed on Sunday (19 October), NCP’s southern region chief organiser Hasnat Abdullah alleged that the EC has been “divided as spoils of war among BNP, Jamaat, and advisers,” and is no longer capable of functioning independently.

“The EC’s attitude suggests that an institutional autocracy has been
created,” Hasnat said.

“It appears there is no consistent policy guiding which symbols are assigned to registered parties. Their behaviour is similar to that of kings and emperors.”

The NCP delegation visited the EC following a letter from the commission demanding that the party select an electoral symbol other than their preferred “Shapla” (water lily) by the end of the day.

Hasnat Abdullah, however, reaffirmed the party’s refusal to accept any symbol other than Shapla.

“When it comes to elections, the remote control seems to be somewhere else. The Election Commission is spineless,” he remarked.

The EC had earlier decided to register the NCP and another political party for the upcoming national elections but required them to comply with existing rules, under which “Shapla” is not listed as an available symbol.

After the NCP missed the earlier deadline of October 7, the EC warned that it would unilaterally assign a symbol.

Despite that warning, NCP leaders reiterated their firm stance on the issue.

“We will not register under any imposed symbol, even if the EC offers options like brinjal,” Hasnat said, calling the commission’s approach “dictatorial” and warning that such actions would erode public confidence in the electoral process.