NCP says Shapla symbol allocation in progress, EC denies claim
Sarjis Alam today reaffirmed that the party will contest the next election with the Shapla symbol
The National Citizen Party (NCP) has claimed that the Election Commission (EC) has begun the process of allocating the Shapla (water lily) symbol to the party.
However, EC officials say no such decision has been made yet.
Samantha Sharmin, senior joint convener of the NCP, told The Business Standard, "We have not yet received any official communication from the Election Commission. We are waiting. We have learned that the process of allocating the Shapla symbol to the NCP is underway, and we hope the commission will contact us very soon."
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Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud told TBS that no decision has been taken regarding the allocation of the Shapla symbol to NCP.
In response to a query, he said the Shapla symbol does not belong to Nagorik Oikya or its leader Mahmudur Rahman Manna. "He may have made such comments, but any party can relinquish its symbol and propose allocating it to another," he added.
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On 2 October, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna said he would not file a lawsuit if the Shapla symbol was granted to the National Citizen Party (NCP). The party had applied to change its electoral symbol from Kettle to either Shapla or Doel (magpie robin).
Chief Election Commissioner MM Nasir Uddin earlier said the matter of the NCP's renewed application seeking the Shapla symbol would be discussed at an upcoming commission meeting.
Meanwhile, during an organisational visit to Natore today, Sarjis Alam, chief organiser for the NCP's northern region, reaffirmed that the party will contest the next election with the Shapla symbol and is "not considering any alternative."
