NCP to accept ‘Shapla Kali’ as party election symbol

The Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) Joint Secretary Zahirul Haque Musa has said that the party will accept the ‘Shapla Kali’ (Water Lily Bud) as its election symbol when the party is registered.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting the Chief Election Commissioner on Sunday, Zahirul Haque Musa said that the Election Commission (EC) last Thursday published a gazette adding several symbols, including the Shapla Kali.

NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, Joint Secretary Zahirul Haque Musa, and Joint Convenor Khaled Saifullah met with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) at his office at 3:00 PM.

NCP, however, submitted an application choosing symbols from the EC list, with Shapla (Water Lily) as the first choice, White Shapla as the second, and Shapla Kali as the third.

Musa said that the party will accept Shapla Kali if allocated by the EC.

He also requested that a public notification be issued considering Shapla Kali as the party’s symbol. “We have applied for Shapla, White Shapla, and Shapla Kali. If Shapla Kali is approved, it should be officially notified,” he said.

According to sources, the meeting with the CEC was held to discuss including ‘Shapla’ in the official symbol list. Despite repeated requests, the EC has not yet allocated the Shapla symbol to any party, noting that it is not listed in the EC’s election management rules, which is why NCP has not been granted it yet.

Last Thursday, the EC published a notification signed by Secretary Akhtar Ahmed listing symbols for registered political parties and independent candidates, including Shapla Kali. NCP has long demanded Shapla as its party symbol.

Ahead of the 13th National Parliament elections, the EC has decided to register two new parties, including NCP. The notification process is ongoing to confirm if there are any objections regarding the party.