The Election Commission (EC) has removed the iconic ‘boat’ symbol from its official website, following the suspension of the Awami League’s registration as a political party.
Although the party’s name still appears on the EC’s list of registered parties, it is now marked as “suspended,” and the symbol column is left blank.
The move comes amid growing demands from the National Citizens` Party (NCP) to cancel the boat symbol entirely and to add the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) symbol to the EC`s list of electoral symbols.
Following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin at the EC headquarters in Agargaon on July 13, NCP Joint Member Secretary Zahirul Islam Musa made the formal request.
In response, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahman had earlier told the media that despite the suspension of the Awami League`s registration, the party’s electoral symbol, the boat, would remain on the EC’s official list for the time being.
He also stated that no decision had yet been made regarding the inclusion of the ‘Shapla’ symbol.
The developments follow a directive issued in May by the interim government, which banned all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated, associate, and like-minded organizations until the completion of trials at the International Crimes Tribunal.
On the same day, the Election Commission formally suspended the Awami League’s registration as a political party.
