Bangladesh’s Election Commission has set today (October 19) as the final deadline for the National Citizen Party (NCP) to pick an electoral symbol from the commission’s approved list, with officials saying the EC will assign one if the party fails to choose. 

Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed the cut-off and said the commission’s stance on symbols remains unchanged. 

An NCP delegation is scheduled to meet the commission at 11:00 a.m. to press its case. 

The party has insisted it will not accept registration under any emblem other than “Shapla” (water lily). 

The EC, however, has repeatedly stated that Shapla—featured in the national emblem—cannot be allotted to any party under the relevant laws and rules. 

Earlier this month, the EC wrote to NCP instructing it to select one from 50 available symbols and to notify the commission in writing—guidance the commission has reiterated in subsequent communications leading up to October 19. 

The commission has also indicated there is no need to amend the rules to include Shapla as a symbol, a position it says is consistent with constitutional and electoral provisions. 

SMS/