After weeks of dispute and tension over election symbols, the National Citizen Party (NCP) — the youth-led party that emerged from the mass uprising — has finally agreed to contest the upcoming parliamentary election with the “Shapla Kali” (Water Lily Bud) symbol.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin on Sunday afternoon, NCP’s Chief Coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwari said the party decided to compromise “in the greater political interest.”
He said,
“We had requested the Election Commission for the Shapla, White Shapla, or Shapla Kali symbol. If we’re given Shapla Kali, NCP will take it. Our grassroots members have accepted it positively.”
The Election Commission (EC) had earlier given NCP until October 7 to choose a symbol from its official list of 50. However, the party missed the deadline and later formally requested the EC to amend the rules to include the ‘Shapla’ (Water Lily) symbol. The EC initially refused, saying it was not on the approved list.
Following NCP’s strong warnings and threats of street protests, the EC on Thursday added four new symbols, including “Shapla Kali,” to the official list.
Explaining the decision, Nasir Uddin Patwari said,
“We can call this an ‘engineering commission.’ We’re fighting within that engineered system. Considering the broader context, we’ve decided to go with the Shapla Kali symbol.”
He added,
“Despite the EC’s arbitrary attitude, should we waste time arguing over symbols? No — we’re entering the election phase. So, in the greater interest, we made this decision.”
During the same meeting, NCP also submitted a written proposal supporting the rule that requires each registered party to contest under its own symbol, even within alliances. The party described this as a “historic and principled step.”
In contrast, the BNP has opposed the rule, demanding its cancellation, while Jamaat-e-Islami expressed support for it. The NCP warned that,
“If the EC changes its stance under BNP’s political pressure, it would undermine the commission’s independence and damage the credibility of the entire election process.”
At Sunday’s meeting, the NCP delegation included Nasir Uddin Patwari, Khale Khaled Saifullah, and Zahirul Islam Musa, while EC Secretary Akhter Ahmed was present on behalf of the commission.
🪷 In summary: After weeks of standoff, the NCP has dropped its insistence on the ‘Shapla’ symbol and will now contest under the ‘Shapla Kali’ (Water Lily Bud) symbol — marking a strategic move to stay in the upcoming election race.