Agargaon: The National Citizen Party (NCP) has called for the Election Commission (EC) to eliminate the ‘boat’ symbol from its list of electoral symbols, arguing that the registration of the Awami League has been suspended.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the NCP claims that the ‘shapla’ (Water Lily) symbol is not part of the national emblem, suggesting there are no legal barriers to its allocation as the party’s electoral symbol. The party warned that should the ‘shapla’ symbol be overlooked, they would resort to political measures. A five-member delegation from the NCP presented this demand during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin at the EC headquarters.
The delegation included NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari and other key members. Election Commissioner Brig Gen Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah (retd) and EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed also attended the meeting.
Post-meeting, NCP’s Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari and Joint Member Secretary Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa addressed the media. Musa emphasized that despite the suspension of the Awami League’s registration, the boat symbol remains in the EC’s list. He noted that the government has already banned the Awami League, and unless a new directive is issued, the boat symbol should be removed.
Nasir Uddin Patwari stated the need for restructuring the Election Commission before the elections, suggesting amendments to the law under which the current EC was formed. He mentioned the importance of retaining individuals with proven track records in constitutional institutions, while highlighting concerns over some individuals acting as spokespersons for specific parties.
On the topic of the shapla symbol, Patwari insisted on its legal availability to the NCP, asserting that any obstruction would be politically contested. Advocate Musa clarified misconceptions about the national emblem, stating that the shapla is part of a combination of elements, and alone does not constitute the national emblem.
Musa further objected to the boat symbol’s presence, advocating for a revision of the EC’s symbol list. The NCP submitted a fresh application, challenging the EC’s interpretation regarding the exclusion of the shapla symbol. Musa stressed that if NCP meets the registration criteria, they should receive the shapla symbol, as they were the first to apply for it.
Earlier, on June 22, the NCP applied for party registration, prioritizing the shapla symbol over others. NCP Convener Nahid Islam expressed hope that shapla would be allotted as a symbol of the people, reflecting rural Bangladesh’s spirit.
Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the EC has proposed a revised list of 115 electoral symbols for the Ministry of Law’s consideration. Despite the shapla symbol’s exclusion, the scales symbol has been restored following a party’s registration reinstatement, whereas the boat symbol remains amidst the Awami League’s suspended registration.