What Warning Did Bangladesh's NCP Issue After EC Denied Symbol?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- NCP issues warning about upcoming elections.
- Shapla symbol denied by Election Commission.
- Concerns over EC's independence raised.
- Political tensions in Bangladesh are escalating.
- Previous collaborations with radical parties noted.
Dhaka, Sep 24 (NationPress) The National Citizen Party (NCP) of Bangladesh has issued a strong warning regarding the upcoming general elections, shortly after the Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh revealed that the party would not receive the "Shapla" (water lily) symbol.
Sarjis Alam, the chief organizer of the NCP, expressed his views on social media, asserting, "Since there is no legal impediment, the NCP's symbol should be the Shapla. There are no alternatives. If not, we will observe how the elections unfold and who aspires to seize power and enjoy the benefits."
He criticized the EC, stating, "The party (NCP) had explicitly requested the Shapla symbol during its initial registration process. So, who is responsible for ensuring that Shapla was included in the electoral symbols list?"
Alam further questioned whether EC officials had been "merely idle" during this time, observing a "drama," or if they had been receiving instructions from another entity, party, or organization, despite their claims of independence.
This situation arose after EC Secretary Akhter Ahmed announced on Tuesday that the "Shapla" could not be designated as a party symbol as it was not part of the EC's reserved symbols list, which comprises 115 electoral symbols.
Earlier on Monday, a delegation from the NCP met with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.
After the meeting, the party's chief coordinator, Nasiruddin Patwari, informed journalists at the EC building in Dhaka that they had discovered conspiratorial activities concerning these symbols. He stated, "The NCP's registration must involve one of these three symbols (Shalpa, white Shalpa, red Shalpa), and this cannot be changed."
Bangladesh is currently experiencing increasing uncertainty and political unrest ahead of the forthcoming elections.
These student leaders previously collaborated with Muhammad Yunus and several other radical political factions to displace the democratically elected Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.