DHAKA, Sept 24, 2025 (BSS) - The National Citizen Party (NCP) has formally 
applied to the Election Commission (EC), seeking the inclusion and allocation 
of the "Shapla" (water lily) symbol, or its variants "White Shapla" or "Red 
Shapla," as the party's electoral symbol.

The application was submitted today via email to the EC Senior Secretary, 
requesting necessary amendments to the Representation of the People's Order, 
2008, to include the proposed symbols in the official list, according to NCP 
sources. 

In the application, signed by NCP Convener Md. Nahid Islam, the party argued 
that there is no legal bar to listing the Shapla as an electoral symbol under 
the Representation of the People's Order and related laws. 

The party maintained that "Shapla," though an element of the national emblem, 
is not in itself the complete emblem, citing precedents where components of 
the national emblem-such as "Paddy Sheaf" and "Star"-have already been 
allocated to political parties.

The NCP noted that since its formal launch on February 28, 2025, the party 
has been in regular dialogue with the Commission over election-related 
matters, including party registration and overseas voting rights.

On June 4, 2025, during a meeting with a Commission committee member, the NCP 
delegation was assured that "Shapla" would be included in the final list of 
electoral symbols. 

However, the party later learned from media reports on July 9, 2025, that the 
Commission had decided not to enlist the Shapla on grounds that it is a 
national symbol.

Challenging this stance, the NCP in subsequent meetings, including one with 
the Chief Election Commissioner on July 13, argued that the Commission's 
reasoning lacked legal basis. 

The party pointed out that other national symbols such as the "Jackfruit" 
(national fruit) and "Golden Fibre" (jute) have been allocated as electoral 
symbols to political parties.

The NCP said its "Shapla" symbol has already gained wide public recognition, 
especially during the "July March" programme earlier this year, where people 
across the country spontaneously adopted the Shapla as the emblem of the 
party. 
It further alleged that denial of the symbol reflected a discriminatory and 
arbitrary approach by the Commission, raising questions about its 
impartiality.

Most recently, following the completion of field-level verification and 
registration requirements, the Commission decided to grant NCP registration 
as a political party. However, on September 23, the Commission's Senior 
Secretary told the media that since Shapla was not listed in the electoral 
symbol schedule, it could not be allocated to NCP.

Terming the stance "regrettable and unilateral," the party urged the Election 
Commission to amend the Representation of the People's Rules, 2008, if 
necessary, and allocate either the Shapla, White Shapla, or Red Shapla symbol 
in its favour. 

NCP stressed that the Commission must avoid arbitrary decisions and ensure a 
level playing field for all parties in the upcoming 13th parliamentary 
elections.