Dhaka, Oct. 14 -- Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed stated on Tuesday that the National Citizen Party (NCP) will not be permitted to use the Shapla (water lily) as its electoral symbol. The NCP must choose an alternative symbol and notify the EC by October 19; if they do not, the Commission will allocate a different symbol at the time of registration.

Speaking to journalists at the EC building in Agargaon, Dhaka, on October 14, Akhtar Ahmed outlined the requirement. The party is also required to submit its request for an alternative symbol by the 19th. If the NCP declines registration without the Shapla, that decision rests with them.

The EC has presented the NCP with a list of fifty possible symbols to choose from, incl...