Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Tuesday said the National Citizen Party (NCP) will not be allowed to use the Shapla (water lily) symbol.
He said the NCP must select an alternative symbol and inform the EC by October 19. Otherwise, the Commission will assign a different symbol during registration.
Responding to a question from journalists at the EC building in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Tuesday (October 14), Akhtar Ahmed made the remarks.
He further said the party must submit its demand for an alternative symbol by the 19th. If it refuses to accept registration without Shapla, that will be its own decision.
The NCP has been asked to choose from fifty electoral symbols, including almirah, bed, ostrich, kite, cup and saucer, spectacles, building, brinjal, rechargeable lamp, computer, jug, ship, tube well, tiffin carrier, table, table clock, telephone, refrigerator, tabla, heron, rooster, pen, watermelon, flute, gourd, pitcher, prawn, plate, bench, lychee, swing, butterfly, balloon, football, flower tub, stool, bucket, banana, electric fan, mug, microphone, peacock, mobile phone, conch, sewing machine, sofa, suitcase, deer, duck, and helicopter.
In response, NCP Joint Member Secretary Zahirul Islam Musa told Jago News: “We are steadfast on the Shapla (water lily). The EC has no right to allocate symbols in this way.”
Commenting on the EC’s plan to provide an alternative symbol, he said, “This arbitrariness by the EC will be politically challenged on the ground. In our recent meeting, it was also decided that we will not accept any symbol other than Shapla.”