No legal bar for EC to allot Shapla symbol to NCP, claims Sarjis

Sarjis Alam, chief organiser (North) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has said there is no legal bar preventing the Election Commission (EC) from allotting the Shapla (Water Lily) symbol to his party.

"We have consulted legal experts on this matter. The Election Commission should show us which law prevents the NCP from being given the Shapla symbol," he told reporters after a coordination meeting organised by the party's district unit at the Dinajpur District Shilpakala Academy auditorium on Saturday afternoon.

Sarjis alleged that the EC is denying the symbol to the NCP in order to please a certain group.

"No fair election can be held if the Election Commission lacks the courage to allocate the Shapla symbol to a political party," he said.

"The NCP will contest the election with the Shapla symbol. If the Election Commission treats us unfairly, we will respond politically," he warned.

Referring to BNP Standing Committee member Salauddin, Sarjis pointed out that the July Charter was not signed by the NCP or four other political parties, and therefore, he said, it would not affect the upcoming national elections.

When asked about the possible impact of the charter, Sarjis said it was for the people to decide. "Before the July uprising, political parties were in disarray – there were hardly any activists willing to take to the streets. Even the main party offices had only a few people present," he said.

On learning from history, Sarjis said that the July Charter needs a legal foundation. "The people will not accept a charter that is just a piece of paper with names on it," he added.

The coordination meeting was presided over by District Chief Coordinator Faisal Karim Soheb.

Central Joint Convener and Divisional Organising Secretary Dr Atiq Mujahid, along with Joint Chief Coordinator Dr Abdur Ahad, also attended the event. NCP leaders and members from 13 upazilas of Dinajpur took part in the meeting.