Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has said the Election Commission (EC) will not provide any explanation for denying the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) electoral symbol to political parties.
Speaking to journalists at his office at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Thursday, the CEC said the symbol was first sought by Nagorik Oikya and later by the National Citizen Party (NCP), but it was given to neither. “The EC will not explain why the ‘Shapla’ symbol is not being allocated,” he stated.
He also noted that threats or warnings over the issue would not influence the commission. “We consider such statements as threats, but the Election Commission does not act under pressure. We aim to work impartially,” Nasir Uddin said.
The CEC reaffirmed that the 13th parliamentary election will be held in February as planned and pledged to ensure a level playing field for all parties. “We will exert our utmost efforts to ensure equal opportunities for everyone,” he added.
