Bangladesh, July 17 -- Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has criticised the Election Commission's (EC) decision to retain the Awami League's "boat" symbol in the official list of election symbols, calling it "ill-judged" and urging a reconsideration.

On Thursday, Asif, a former representative of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, said keeping the symbol contradicts the spirit of the July Uprising.

"It's unfortunate that in the same month as the July Uprising, we still have to debate whether the boat symbol should remain on the list, even after the Awami League has been banned," he said.

"With all due respect, I say this not as a member of the government, but as a citizen of Bangladesh and on behalf of those who...