NCP threatens political movement if denied 'Shapla' as electoral symbol

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced it will launch a political campaign if it is not granted the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) as its electoral symbol.

NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari made the announcement today (Sunday) during a press briefing following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka.

“We have no alternative to ‘Shapla’ as our election symbol,” Patwari said. “Legally, we are entitled to it. If we are obstructed, we will fight politically.”

Patwari also questioned the neutrality of the Election Commission (EC) members and demanded its reformation ahead of the polls.

“The EC must be restructured before the election—straightforward. The law under which it was previously formed must also be amended,” he added.

A five-member delegation from the NCP took part in the meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner. Besides Nasiruddin Patwari, the delegation included NCP’s Chief Organiser (Southern Region) Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam, Joint Member Secretary Advocate Jahirul Islam Musa, and Joint Convener Khalid Saifullah.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Jahirul Islam Musa said, since the Awami League’s registration is currently suspended, the party’s symbol should be excluded from the commission’s list accordingly.

The delegation brought this to the EC’s attention, and the commission assured that the matter would be given special consideration, he said.

The NCP, on June 22, submitted its application for official registration as a political party to the Election Commission (EC), seeking three symbols for its electoral identity, with 'Shapla' as its first preference.

The EC said the symbol will not be allocated to any political party in order to protect the dignity of national symbols.