The National Citizen Party (NCP) has been instructed by the Election Commission (EC) to submit the name of an alternative election symbol by October 19. If the party fails to do so within the deadline, the commission will assign a symbol at its discretion.
Senior Secretary of the Election Commission, Akhtar Ahmed, informed journalists of this decision on Tuesday at the EC office in Agargaon.
The NCP has remained firm in its demand for the Shapla (water lily) symbol, which is not included in the EC’s reserved list of symbols.
Earlier, in June, the party’s request for either the Shapla or the Doel (magpie-robin) symbol was rejected. Following this, the National Unity alliance sent another letter to the EC on behalf of the NCP reiterating the request.
On September 24, the NCP formally applied to the EC to amend the regulations and include the Shapla symbol for allocation. Subsequently, on October 7, the party submitted a letter with seven sample images of the Shapla symbol to the Senior Secretary of the EC via email.
The letter, signed by NCP convener Nahid Islam, stated that the party initially applied for registration as a political party on June 22 and requested the Shapla symbol as its preferred emblem. In the letter, the NCP ranked its choices as follows: 1) Shapla, 2) White Shapla, and 3) Red Shapla. The party also expressed its willingness to discuss partial or distorted variations of the Shapla symbol as long as it remains recognizable.
The NCP emphasized that the Shapla symbol has a strong connection with the people and has helped bind its supporters, members, and leaders with the citizens of the country. The party stated that it cannot accept any alternative symbol suggested by the EC, as it would undermine this deep bond.
