NCP adamant on ‘Shapla’ symbol, rejects EC’s list

The party has sent seven samples of a potential “Shapla” symbol in its letter to the commission

The National Citizen Party has informed the Election Commission that it will not choose any symbol from the commission’s list.

Instead, the party has requested an amendment to the election conduct rules to include the “Shapla” symbol, according to a letter emailed to the EC secretary on Tuesday.

NCP Convenor Nahid Islam expressed hope that one of three variations: Shapla, White Shapla or Red Shapla, would be allocated to the party.

The EC has already decided not to allocate the Shapla symbol to any party.

Despite granting NCP registration, the commission said the party could not be assigned that symbol as it was not included in the official list of election symbols.

Ahead of the parliamentary polls, the EC has decided to register two new political parties, including the NCP.

As part of that process, on Sept 30, the EC sent a letter to NCP asking it to select a symbol from the approved list within a week.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, NCP Joint Member Secretary Zahirul Islam Musa said: “Our convenor has signed the response to EC’s letter, which we have emailed to the EC secretary. As the secretary is abroad, we didn’t meet in person.”

He added that NCP did not choose any of the 50 symbols proposed by the commission.

“We have rejected all the options the EC has provided. Our symbol will be Shapla. In our letter we have requested the EC to revise its list to include it. Once added, we will select the preferred design from the samples.”

The party has also submitted seven sample designs of the Shapla symbol with its letter to the commission.