EC spineless, works with institutional autocracy: Hasnat on Shapla symbol row
NCP leaders maintained their firm commitment to the Shapla symbol and stated that they would not accept any other imposed by the EC, even though the list includes options like brinjal
Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser for the southern region of National Citizen Party (NCP), has rejected the Election Commission's (EC) attempts to assign them an alternative electoral symbol today (19 October), criticising the EC as "spineless".
He also alleged the commission is operating under an "institutional autocracy", after an NCP delegation visit in response to a letter demanding they choose a symbol other than the desired Shapla (water lily) by the end of the day.
Hasnat Abdullah articulated the party's hard-line stance after meeting with EC Secretary Akhter Ahmed as he expressed deep concerns about the EC's conduct ahead of the national elections.
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Speaking on the EC's symbol allocation process, Hasnat alleged a complete lack of policy and a dictatorial mindset.
Their [Election Commission's] behaviour is similar to that of kings and emperors
"The EC's attitude suggests that an institutional autocracy has been created. It appears as if there is no policy governing which symbols are given to which existing parties," he stated.
"It resembles the barbaric governance of the Middle Ages, where the kings acted as they pleased... Their [Election Commission's] behaviour is similar to that of kings and emperors."
Hasnat further alleged that the EC has lost its agency.
"When it comes to elections, the remote control seems to be somewhere else. The Election Commission is spineless," he said, adding that the current commission lacks the capacity to hold a free and fair election.
NCP leaders maintained their firm commitment to the Shapla symbol and stated that they would not accept any other imposed by the EC, even though the list includes options like brinjal.
Earlier, the Election Commission had decided to register the NCP and one other party for the upcoming polls but had insisted on adhering to the election rules, which currently do not list 'Shapla' as an available electoral symbol. Following the NCP's failure to choose a symbol by the previous deadline of 7 October, the EC had warned it would assign one on its own.
The NCP reiterated that it would not register under any symbol other than "Shapla".
