The Election Commission (EC) has given a list of 50 symbols including gourd, brinjal, bucket, bed, and thala as alternatives to the Shapla symbol to the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP), which applied for registration. The party will be able to choose a symbol from this list by October 7.

On Thursday (October 2), an Election Commission source said that Deputy Secretary of the Election Support Branch Md. Rafiqul Islam has sent a letter to NCP convener Nahid Islam in this regard.

The letter mentioned that the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) initially mentioned Shapla, pen and mobile phone as symbols in its application for registration. Later, the party amended the application and wanted Shapla, white Shapla or red Shapla symbols.

However, as per Rule 9(1) of the Election Conduct Rules, 2008, the ‘Shapla’ or any colour-based version of it is not included in the list of symbols prescribed for the National Assembly elections. As a result, it is not possible to allocate the Shapla symbol.

The letter further states that as per the rules, a symbol will be allocated to the candidates of a registered party from the list prescribed, and that symbol will be reserved for the party thereafter. However, if the party wishes, it can adopt any other prescribed symbol in the future.

In this situation, the NCP has been asked to select a symbol from the list of prescribed symbols as per Rule 9(1) of the Election Conduct Rules and inform it in writing by October 7.

The symbols from which the NCP has been asked to choose are:
Almirah, bed, ostrich, kite, cup-plate, glasses, building, brinjal, charger light, computer, jug, ship, tubewell, tiffin carrier, table, table clock, telephone, fridge, tabla, goat, rooster, pen, watermelon, flute, gourd, pitcher, shrimp, plate, bench, litchi, swing, butterfly, balloon, football, flower tub, wrap, bucket, banana, electric fan, mug, microphone, peacock, mobile phone, conch, sewing machine, sofa, suitcase, deer, duck and helicopter.

EC officials said that the lotus symbol that the Jatiya Nagorik Party wanted in its application cannot be allotted as it is not in the list. As a result, they will have to choose from the listed alternative symbols.