The National Citizens Party (NCP) is not getting the 'Shapla' as its party symbol. They will have to choose an alternative symbol from the Election Commission's (EC) list, said EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

He gave this information to reporters at the Election Building in Agargaon on Tuesday.

The list of symbols has been vetted by the Law Ministry. The Shapla symbol is not on that list, the EC secretary said.

In July this year, the EC took a policy decision not to include the 'shapla' as an election symbol in the rules. Earlier, the NCP, a political party formed by the youth who led the mass uprising, applied to the EC for registration and wanted the 'shapla' as its symbol. In the NCP's application, the list of preferred symbols included 'pen' and 'mobile phone' in addition to the shapla.

On July 9, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud said that a policy decision has been made not to list the Shapla as an election symbol. He said that some parties had asked for the Shapla symbol in the past, but it was not given. There is a law to protect the honor of the national symbol and the national flag. However, no law has been made regarding national flowers or fruits. Taking these issues into consideration, a policy decision has been taken not to list the Shapla as an election symbol.