Highlights
- Election Commission (EC) says there is no scope to allocate the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) symbol to NCP.
- EC Secretary confirms that the symbol is not listed in election rules.
- NCP leader Sargis Alam insists the party will participate in the next election only with the Shapla symbol.
- The party accuses the EC of unnecessary delays and unfair treatment.
EC: No Scope to Give NCP the ‘Shapla’ Symbol
Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed has stated that there is no opportunity to grant the ‘Shapla’ symbol to the National Citizen Party (NCP) because it is not included in the election regulations.
He told reporters on Monday (October 27) at the Election Commission building that the EC will announce another symbol at its discretion through a public notice.
“বিধিমালায় শাপলা প্রতীক না থাকায় এনসিপিকে শাপলা দেওয়ার সুযোগ নেই,”
Translation: “There is no opportunity to give NCP the ‘Shapla’ Symbol as it is not included in the regulations.”
“নিজের ব্যবসার জন্য এখন নিজের ওয়েবসাইট — মাত্র কয়েক মিনিটে Storola দিয়ে!”
Akhtar Ahmed added that the EC has already clarified its position and has not received any new proposal on the matter.
“কমিশন এরইমধ্যে তাদের অবস্থান জানিয়েছে। এখন পর্যন্ত এ বিষয়ে কোনো বিকল্প প্রস্তাব কমিশনের কাছে আসেনি,”
Translation: “The commission has already shared its stance. So far, no alternative proposal has been submitted.”
“ব্যবসায়ী, ক্যারিয়ার বিল্ডার বা মার্কেটার—সবার জন্য এক রোডম্যাপ ! বিস্তারিত জানতে ক্লিক করুন..”
He also mentioned that before amending the Representation of the People Order (RPO), the EC held extensive discussions with political parties. He assured that no conflicting issue had been found during the process.
NCP: We Will Contest Only with ‘Shapla’
Meanwhile, Sargis Alam, chief organizer of NCP’s northern region, announced that the party will take part in the upcoming election only with the Shapla symbol, rejecting the EC’s stance.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday afternoon at Tangail Press Club, he said:
“কোন আইনগত বাধা না থাকা সত্ত্বেও যখন এনসিপিকে তাদের যে প্রতীক শাপলা আমরা চেয়েছিলাম সেটি দিতে নানা তালবাহানা করা হচ্ছে… আমরা আমাদের জায়গা থেকে অবশ্যই প্রতীক হিসেবে শাপলাকে এনসিপির জন্য চাই,”
Translation: “Although there is no legal obstacle, the EC is making various excuses not to give us the Shapla symbol. We clearly state that NCP must get Shapla as its election symbol.”
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He also added that NCP believes post-uprising politics in Bangladesh should not revolve solely around elections.
“আমরা মনে করি অভ্যুত্থান পরবর্তী বাংলাদেশের রাজনৈতিক দলগুলোর চাওয়া পাওয়া শুধুমাত্র নির্বাচন কেন্দ্রিক হতে পারে না,”
Translation: “We believe that political ambitions in post-uprising Bangladesh should not be limited only to elections.”
Sargis further emphasized that NCP will not accept any authoritarian behaviour from any institution and will fight to ensure fair representation for the new generation.
The press event was chaired by Masudur Rahman Russell, chief coordinator of NCP Tangail district, and attended by leaders from different levels of the organization.
Source: Jago News 24 & Bangladesh Pratidin
