Election Commission says polls logo remains under its ownership even if party dissolves

Keeping the boat symbol listed with Awami League activities banned sparks dispute from the NCP, which wants the “water lily” as its electoral emblem

The Election Commission (EC) has clarified that the “boat” symbol will remain in its list of reserved electoral symbols, despite the suspension of the Awami League’s registration.

On Sunday, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said election symbols are never banned and remain the property of the commission, even if a political party ceases to exist.

The clarification came after the National Citizen Party (NCP), which has applied for registration, demanded that the boat be removed from the list and their preferred ‘Shapla’, or water lily, symbol be included.

In preparation for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, the EC has revised the electoral code and proposed a new list of 115 reserved symbols, now under vetting by the law ministry.

The list includes the “weighing scales” symbol following Jamaat-e-Islami's re-registration, and retains the boat, despite the Awami League’s suspension. However, the water lily, sought by both NCP and Nagorik Oikya, was not included.

The EC suspended the Awami League’s registration following demands from different factions within the current post-Uprising government. NCP argues that as long as the Awami League’s status remains unresolved, its symbol should also be excluded.

Following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, NCP Joint Member Secretary Zahirul Islam Musa said: “The Awami League’s registration is suspended, but its boat symbol remains. That’s legally untenable.”

Commissioner Masud, however, rejected this argument.

“The boat was allocated to a party by the EC, and it is still officially on record. Even if the party is inactive or dissolved, the symbol doesn’t vanish. It remains in the EC’s custody and can be reallocated in future.”

Citing precedents, he added that the EC retains symbols of defunct parties, such as tiger, axe, key, and hookah, in the official registry.

“The Freedom Party may no longer exist, but its symbol is still with us. We are guided by law, not expediency.”

The EC introduced party registration with symbol protection in 2008. Currently, 69 symbols are reserved for registered parties and independent candidates.

On the separate issue of NCP’s renewed appeal for the water lily symbol, which had earlier been rejected on grounds of its status as a national emblem, Masud said no decision had been made yet.

The NCP had initially applied for water lily, pen, and mobile phone symbols. The party argues it was the first to apply for water lily after the code revision, and thus should be prioritised if the symbol is later included.

“We expect the EC to honour our position,” Musa said. “If the party is granted registration, we should receive Shapla.”

Commissioner Masud acknowledged the appeal but said the EC would decide on the symbol after the party’s registration is finalised. “There’s no scope to act on this yet,” he said.