The Election Commission (EC) has said that the National Citizens Party (NCP) cannot be allotted the Shapla (water lily) symbol under any circumstances as it falls outside the legal framework.

On Tuesday, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said that NCP must choose a symbol listed in the schedule by October 19. Otherwise, the commission will allot a symbol to the party at its discretion.

We have had over two-and-a-half hours of discussion with NCP regarding the Shapla symbol. We explained why it is not possible to allocate the Shapla symbol to them," he said.

He also added that the commission’s earlier stance on allotting the Shapla symbol remains unchanged.

Earlier, on Sunday, Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin said at an event in Chattogram that the law requires parties to choose from the listed symbols. “So far, the commission has not given any symbol outside the list. However, the commission can increase or decrease the symbols if it wishes,” he said.

Although NCP has fulfilled all conditions for registration as a political party, the Shapla symbol they desire is not included in the EC’s relevant rules. The EC had sent a letter to the party on October 7, asking them to select a symbol from the available list. However, the party wants Shapla as its official symbol.

In a letter to the Election Commission, NCP said it hopes that the relevant rules will be amended to allow the party to be allotted the Shapla symbol, or either a white or red Shapla.