NCP insists on Shapla electoral symbol, demands EC to remove AL’s Boat from list

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has reiterated its demand for the "Shapla" (water lily) electoral symbol and called on the Election Commission (EC) to remove the Awami League's "Boat" symbol from the official list, citing the party's suspended registration.

The demands were made during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at the EC headquarters in Agargaon today (13 July).

A five-member NCP delegation, led by Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, also included Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis Alam, Joint Convener Khaled Saifullah, and Joint Member Secretary Zahirul Islam Musa.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah and EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed were present at the meeting, which lasted over two hours.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Zahirul Islam Musa said, "While the Awami League's registration remains suspended, the Boat symbol has not been removed from the list. We informed the EC that, legally, it cannot remain on the list."

He argued that the symbol should not appear unless a new government decision or court directive is issued regarding the party's registration status.

NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari added, "There is no legal obstacle to getting the Shapla symbol. If there is, we will fight it politically. For us, there is no alternative to the Shapla."

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said despite the suspension of the Awami League's registration, the boat symbol will remain in the EC's schedule of electoral symbols for the time being.

Today, while speaking to the media, he clarified that although the party's registration has been suspended and its political activities banned, the boat symbol will not be removed from the schedule yet.

"We assign symbols to political parties, and these are reserved by the EC. Unless a final decision is made regarding a party, there is no scope to remove its symbol," he explained.

Regarding the NCP's request for the Shalpa symbol, he noted that any party may request a symbol, but since Shalpa is not currently listed in the EC's official schedule, it cannot be granted at this stage.

"This will be considered if the NCP is officially registered in the future," he added.

NCP leader Musa, elaborating on the symbol dispute, said, "The national emblem includes a floating Shapla, paddy stalks, jute leaves, and stars. Paddy is now the symbol of the BNP, jute and star symbols belong to other parties. Yet only Shapla is being excluded on the claim that it represents the national emblem."

"The Shapla is not the emblem itself but one element within it. The EC's argument for omission is based on a misinterpretation," he said.

He added, "We have submitted a new application requesting the inclusion of Shapla in the list. If the NCP fulfils registration conditions, we believe the Shapla should be allocated accordingly."

Reportedly, the NCP had earlier requested the Shapla symbol when submitting their registration application on 22 June. They also mentioned the pen and mobile phone as alternative choices. Prior to that, Nagorik Oikya applied to change its existing Kettle symbol to the Shapla.

In response, the EC omitted the symbol entirely from a revised list of 115 electoral symbols sent to the Law Ministry for vetting.

'EC must be reformed'

The NCP has also maintained its call for reforming the Election Commission, a demand it has voiced since the current CEC and commissioners were appointed under the CEC and EC Appointment Bill 2022, passed during the Awami League government's tenure.

Asked whether that demand still stands, Musa said, "We did not support the process by which this EC was formed. Our position remains the same. There is also a proposal from the Consensus Commission that constitutional bodies like the EC should function transparently."

Criticising the EC, Nasiruddin Patwary said that it must be reformed before the next election.atwary said  "Those who have performed well in constitutional institutions may be retained, but some are acting as partisan spokespersons."