The current Election Commission (EC) has no competence to hold a free and fair election, said National Citizens Party (NCP) South Region Chief Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the EC office in Agargaon, Dhaka, on the last day for symbol preference submission, Hasnat accused the Commission of acting “like medieval kings and emperors,” instead of showing the transparency and public trust expected from such a body.

“The Election Commission is not holding the remote control — it is being operated from somewhere else,” he alleged. “Such conduct by the EC is an obstacle to a fair election.”

Criticising what he termed the Commission’s “autocratic behaviour,” the NCP leader said, “The current EC has no capability to organise a credible election. I urge them to refrain from taking decisions that could lead to the same fate as Nurul Huda’s Commission.”

Reiterating the party’s stance, Hasnat said the NCP would not accept any symbol other than Shapla (water lily). “There is no legal explanation from the EC for denying Shapla. We will face this politically,” he added.

When applying for registration in June, the NCP had initially proposed Shapla, pen, and mobile phone as possible symbols. Later, the party dropped the other two and pressed for Shapla only.

However, as Shapla is not listed in the EC’s official roster of symbols for political parties, the Commission has repeatedly rejected the NCP’s requests.

On 7 October, the NCP sent seven sample illustrations of the Shapla symbol to the Commission, again urging its approval. 

The EC, however, dismissed the appeal and replied in writing that the party must choose from the existing list of approved symbols. It warned that if no response was received by Sunday, the Commission would allocate a symbol of its own choosing.

Despite the EC’s firm stance, the NCP remains resolute in its position.