In the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections, a notable trend has emerged. Nearly half of the independent candidates are vying for the Eagle symbol.
With 152 candidates out of 382 non-partisan contestants choosing it, the eagle has become the symbol of choice for many seeking to stand out on the ballot.
While some candidates cite the eagle's visual appeal and recognizability among common voters as their reason for choosing it, others delve deeper into its symbolic meaning.
Analysts believe this trend is a deliberate strategy by the ruling Awami League to attract voters.
Many Awami League leaders who have become independent candidates have chosen the eagle, hoping to leverage its positive connotations of power, strength and invincibility.
On Monday, returning officers allocated designated symbols to registered political parties and conducted a lottery for the independent candidates.
The widespread inclination among independent candidates towards the Eagle symbol, as observed on social media, is attributed to the symbol's simplicity and widespread understanding among the general population.
Prominent candidates competing for the Eagle symbol include Dr Ihteshamul Haque Chowdhury in Sylhet-3 Constituency, Sarwar Hossain in Sylhet-6, Ahmed Al Kabir in Sylhet-5, Amatul Kibria Keya Chowdhury in Habiganj-1, Dr Jaya Sengupta in Sunamganj-2, Syed Syedul Haque Sumon in Habiganj-4, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury Nixon in Faridpur-4, AK Azad in Faridpur-3, Arifur Rahman Dolan in Faridpur-1, Jamal Hossain Mia in Faridpur-2, Abdul Latif Biswas in Sirajganj-5, Pankaj Debnath in Barisal-4, Dr Murad Hasan in Jamalpur-4, Jamal Uddin Chowdhury in Chittagong-3, and Shamsul Haque Chowdhury in Chittagong-12.
Pankaj Debnath, an independent candidate in Barisal-4, sees the eagle as a symbol of strength, capacity and capabilities.
Sajjad Hossain, a candidate from Comilla, highlights the eagle's appeal to younger voters, contrasting it with less relatable symbols like kettles and teapots. He believes the eagle's brand aligns better with the aspirations of today's youth.
An anonymous candidate emphasized that symbols like the truck and the eagle are easily comprehensible to the common people, unlike more complex symbols like the rocket or everyday items such as tea kettles, wraps, swings, fridges, and cupboards.
Barrister Syedul Haque Sumon, running independently in Habiganj-4, sees the eagle as a symbol of standards among the choices available to individual candidates.
He said that the eagle has the ability to rise above storms and accurately track targets over long distances, conveying a powerful and meaningful message as a symbol.
