NCP applies to EC for 'Shapla' symbol

FE Team | Published: September 25, 2025 00:10:22

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, reports BSS.
The application was submitted Wednesday 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.