NCP insists on 'Shapla' symbol, rejects 'Shapla Koli'
The party’s Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary demanded that the EC reissue a new gazette involving the Shapla symbol and warned that the NCP would launch a democratic movement at the EC office if the demand is not met.
Leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) have said they will not compromise on their demand for the 'Shapla' (water lily) as their electoral symbol, rejecting the Election Commission's newly offered 'Shapla Koli' (water lily bud).
"The Election Commission has given us the 'Shapla Koli' symbol in the new gazette. We fail to understand the rationale behind this decision. However, when it comes to the matter of 'Shapla', we remain uncompromising," party's Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said at a seminar at the party's temporary office in Dhaka's Bangla Motor this evening (30 October).
The event was organised by Jatiya Jubo Shakti, youth wing of the NCP.
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The party had long been pressing for the "Shapla" symbol, but the commission earlier said it could not allocate it since it was not listed among the approved symbols. However, in a new gazette published today, the EC included "Shapla Koli" in its updated list of electoral symbols.
The gazette, signed by EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, announced the revised list of symbols for registered political parties and independent candidates, adding and removing several options including "Shapla Koli".
Reacting to the development, Patwary said the party would not accept the proposed 'Shapla Koli' symbol under any circumstances.
He demanded that the EC reissue a new gazette involving the Shapla symbol and warned that the NCP would launch a democratic movement at the EC office if the demand is not met.
Speaking at the event, party's Senior Joint Convener Samantha Sharmin alleged that the EC's decision was discriminatory.
"Without any legal reason, the Commission gazetted 'Shapla Koli' for us, as if we were a party of children. This is the same way major parties tend to undermine smaller ones — it's a form of discrimination," she said.
Jatiya Juboshakti Convener Tariqul Islam also criticised the EC, saying, "The Election Commission is behaving like a feudal authority. This attitude is unacceptable. Only 'Shapla' will be NCP's symbol."
Formed last year by student and youth leaders who led movements against the previous Awami League government, the NCP was recently deemed eligible for registration following an EC review, reports UNB.
Since then, the party has been demanding the "Shapla" as its electoral symbol.
Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and other officials had expressed their inability to allocate the symbol.
On 23 September, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters that NCP would not receive the 'Shapla' symbol as it was not included in the EC's list of 115 approved symbols.
