NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari today spoke to journalists after the meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, July 13, 2025 (BSS) - The National Citizen Party (NCP) has demanded removal of “boat” symbol from the Election Commission’s (EC) list of electoral symbols, citing the suspension of the Awami League’s registration.

Simultaneously, NCP argued that the “shapla” (Water Lily) symbol is not the national emblem, saying there are no legal obstacles to its allocation as electoral symbol of NCP. The party also cautioned that if ‘shapla’ symbol is left out, they will respond through political means. 

A five-member NCP delegation made this demand when met with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission headquarters here in Agargaon.

The delegation comprised NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis Alam, Joint Member Secretary Zahirul Islam Musa, and Joint Convener Khalid Saifullah.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah (retd) and EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed were also present at the meeting.

Responding to journalists after the meeting, NCP’s Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari and Joint Member Secretary Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa spoke about the discussions. 

Zahirul Islam Musa said, “Despite the suspension of the Awami League’s registration, the boat symbol has not been removed from the EC’s list. We brought this to the EC’s attention.” 

Mentioning that legally the EC cannot retain the boat symbol on the list, he said that the government has already banned the Awami League, after which the EC suspended its registration. “Unless the government or court issues a new directive, the boat cannot remain on the symbol list,” he said.

Nasir Uddin Patwari said, “The Election Commission must be restructured before the election. This is a straightforward issue. The law under which the current EC was formed must be amended.” 

He continued “According to the consensus commission proposal, individuals with proven track records in constitutional institutions, including the EC, can be retained. However, some individuals are acting as spokespersons for a particular party.”

Regarding the shapla symbol, Patwari said, “We have no alternative to shapla. Legally, there is no bar to us obtaining it. If any obstruction arises, we will fight it politically.”

Addressing the national emblem concern, Advocate Musa clarified, “The national emblem includes the floating shapla, a paddy sheaf, a star, and a jute leaf. Among these, the paddy sheaf is already the BNP's electoral symbol, while the star belongs to another party, and golden jute to another. The jackfruit, as the national fruit, is also claimed by one party.” 

He added “The shapla alone is not the national emblem — it is a misrepresentation. The national emblem is a combination of those four elements.”

He further said they objected to the boat symbol and it should be excluded from the list, which requires the EC to revise the symbol list. 

Musa said, “We submitted a fresh application from NCP. The EC’s current interpretation regarding the exclusion of the shapla symbol is flawed. There is no legal bar to including it as an electoral symbol.”

He also added, “If NCP fulfills the registration requirements, we should receive the shapla symbol. The EC typically accepts applications and considers them.” 

He went on, “When the EC sends its policy decision to the Ministry of Law, we were the first to apply for the shapla. Therefore, we expect to receive it as our right.”

Earlier, on June 22, the NCP submitted its application for party registration. On that day, NCP Convener Nahid Islam stated that the party had applied for three symbols — shapla, pen, and mobile — with shapla being the top preference. “We hope shapla will be allotted to NCP as a symbol of the people and mass uprising — and as a rural emblem of Bangladesh,” he said.

Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the EC has proposed a revised list of 115 electoral symbols for vetting by the Ministry of Law. The shapla symbol was not included in this list. 

Meanwhile, the scales symbol has been restored following the reinstatement of a party’s registration, but the boat symbol remains, despite the Awami League’s registration being suspended.