NCP Set to Adopt ‘Shapla Kali’ as Official Election Symbol

The Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) has said it will accept the ‘Shapla Kali’ (Water Lily Bud) as its election symbol once the party is officially registered.

NCP Joint Secretary Zahirul Haque Musa made the announcement after a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Sunday. He noted that the Election Commission (EC) last Thursday published a gazette including several symbols, among them Shapla Kali.

NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari, Joint Secretary Zahirul Haque Musa, and Joint Convenor Khaled Saifullah met the CEC at 3:00 PM to discuss the party’s symbol.

The party submitted an application listing Shapla (Water Lily) as its first choice, White Shapla as the second, and Shapla Kali as the third. Musa said the party will accept Shapla Kali if allocated by the EC and requested a public notification confirming it as the official symbol.

“Shapla Kali is included in our choices. If approved, it should be officially notified,” he said.

Sources said the meeting focused on including the Shapla symbol in the official list. Although NCP has long demanded Shapla as its symbol, it has not yet been granted because it is not listed in the EC’s election management rules.

The EC’s recent notification, signed by Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, listed symbols for registered political parties and independent candidates, including Shapla Kali.

Ahead of the 13th National Parliament elections, the EC is registering two new parties, including NCP, with a notification process underway to address any objections regarding the party.