Senior Secretary of the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed, has indicated that the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) must select its electoral symbol from the EC’s official list.
He also announced that the NCP and the Bangladesh National League have been granted registration as political parties.
He disclosed this information on Tuesday during a press briefing held in front of his office at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Akhtar Ahmed said: “A total of 143 parties had applied. Information regarding 22 of them was reviewed in the field. Of these, two parties—the NCP and the Bangladesh National League—have been approved for registration. In addition, 13 parties remain under review.”
He added: “There is an unresolved matter concerning the electoral symbol of the National Citizen Party (NCP). The symbols they requested are not included in the schedule of our regulations on symbols. Therefore, we will issue a letter requesting them to confirm a symbol. Upon receiving their response, we will publish a notification mentioning the approved symbol. As for the Bangladesh National League, their choice of symbol is acceptable and finalized.”
Earlier, the NCP had applied for one of the following symbols: Shapla (Water Lily), Pen, or Mobile Phone. Later, they amended their application, requesting instead Shapla (Water Lily), Shada Shapla or Lal Shapla.
On September 23, the EC Secretary had commented: “The NCP will not be given the Shapla symbol. In the scheduled list of 115 approved symbols, Shapla is not included. The rule is that a party must choose from the reserved symbols. If Shapla is not on the list, then there is no opportunity to allocate it.”
On September 22, NCP’s Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari had said: “We have once again demanded the symbols Shapla, Shada Shapla and Lal Shapla. We are not backing away from this decision. There is a conspiracy behind this. Our registration must be granted with one of these three symbols.”
In response, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said: "Political leaders often make statements, and it is within their right to do so. They may say what they wish; we, however, cannot respond in kind. We will listen, as good listeners should, and proceed in accordance with the law."
He added: "We do not consider these remarks as threats. They are not traitors to the country; they are patriots. I do not see this as a threat to the country, nor to us. They want the country’s welfare, and they too understand which actions serve the nation’s interests.”
