Dhaka, Oct 27: Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) on Monday officially rejected the National Citizen Party’s (NCP) request to allocate the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) as its electoral symbol, citing that the symbol does not exist in the official list prescribed under election regulations, local media reported.
The decision comes amid escalating tensions, as the NCP has persistently pressed for the Shapla symbol and even threatened to withdraw its registration if the demand is not met. “The NCP cannot be given the Shapla symbol because it is not listed in the regulations. The EC will soon issue a public notification assigning another symbol at its discretion,” said Akhtar Ahmed, Senior Secretary to the Election Commission, while speaking to reporters in Dhaka, as quoted by The Business Standard.
In response, NCP leaders sharply criticized the Commission’s decision. Sarjis Alam, the party’s chief organiser for the northern region, warned that the NCP would launch street protests if the demand remains unfulfilled. “There is no legal barrier to allocating Shapla. The EC’s refusal shows it lacks independence. If they cannot act freely, how can we trust them in the elections?” he said, according to Jugantor.
Hasnat Abdullah, the party’s chief organiser for the southern region, accused the EC of behaving like “kings and monarchs from the medieval era” and questioned its capacity to conduct a free and fair election. “This is a spineless commission, influenced by vested quarters,” he alleged.
Earlier this month, the NCP warned that denying the Shapla symbol could have serious political consequences, potentially affecting next year’s general elections.
The controversy unfolds amid rising political uncertainty and unrest in Bangladesh, as opposition forces intensify pressure on the government ahead of the upcoming polls.
