The Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) has once again written to Election Commission (EC), formally requesting the allocation of ‘Shapla’ (water lily) as its election symbol.

The party has also submitted seven sample designs of the proposed symbol along with the letter.

According to NCP sources, the letter—signed by Convener Nahid Islam—was sent to the EC Secretary on Tuesday.

In its latest correspondence, the party reiterated that the ‘Shapla’ symbol has established a deep emotional connection with the general public, and it is therefore not possible for the NCP to accept any alternative symbol from the EC’s existing list.

The NCP detailed the sequence of events surrounding the symbol dispute in its letter:

As part of preparations for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the EC initiated a process under Rule 9(1) of the Election Conduct Rules, 2008 to enlist new election symbols.

The NCP claims that the concerned EC committee finalized a draft list of 150 symbols, and during a meeting on June 4, an EC official assured them that the ‘Shapla’ symbol was included in the final draft.

Earlier, on June 22, the NCP had applied for registration and formally requested the ‘Shapla’ as its election symbol. Later, on August 3, the party submitted a follow-up letter ranking its preferences as– Shapla; White Shapla; and Red Shapla.

The party alleged that despite these applications, EC did not resolve the issue and instead issued a related notice on September 30, leaving their applications pending—an act the NCP called procedurally unlawful.

The NCP further cited that 101 senior lawyers, including a number of Supreme Court advocates, have declared that allocating the ‘Shapla’ symbol to NCP poses no legal impediment. Even Attorney General Mohammad Asaduzzaman, in a recent interview, reportedly said there was no major legal barrier to granting the symbol to NCP.

Additionally, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, President of Nagorik Oikya, has also publicly expressed a favorable stance on the allocation of the ‘Shapla’ symbol to NCP.

The NCP accused the EC of displaying a hostile and arbitrary attitude toward the party, saying that the decision not to allocate the symbol lacks legal basis and undermines the EC’s neutrality as a constitutional body.

The letter also accused the commission of deliberate delay in the registration process and of acting in a discriminatory and unlawful manner by withholding the ‘Shapla’ symbol—allegedly to prevent NCP from effectively participating in the upcoming elections.

Citing fairness and public interest, the NCP urged the EC to amend Rule 9(1) of the Election Conduct Rules, 2008, if necessary, and allocate one of the following three symbols to the party– Shapla; White Shapla; and Red Shapla.

The party emphasized that doing so would help uphold the EC’s credibility and ensure a level playing field ahead of the national election.