NCP slams EC for arbitrary denial of 'Water Lily' symbol

National Citizen Party (NCP) has alleged that the Election Commission (EC) is making an 'arbitrary decision' by denying the party its preferred electoral symbol 'Water Lily', reports UNB.

"We've seen that the Election Commission is taking an arbitrary decision," said NCP chief organiser for the southern region Hasnat Abdullah while talking to reporters after a meeting between an NCP delegation and EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital on Sunday.

Hasnat said the Commission could not provide any legal explanation for refusing to allocate the 'Water Lily' symbol, adding that the party has no alternative choice for its symbol.

"About the activities of the Election Commission, we have been saying from the very beginning that it seems like an institutional autocracy is being created," he said.

Over the EC schedule on the list of symbols, the NCP leader said there is no clear policy explaining how the symbols are included in the schedule. Secondly, there is no policy explaining why 'Water Lily' would not be included in the list. Thirdly, there is no clear guideline on how political parties have been allocated symbols over different periods, he added.

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker has said National Citizens Party (NCP) cannot be allotted 'Shapla' (Water Lily) as it is not included in the official list of symbols under the constitutional law and election rules.

He made the remark while talking to reporters at Sylhet Police Lines on Sunday after a training session aimed at enhancing police efficiency to ensure smooth election duties.