The National Citizen Party (NCP) has applied for registration with the Election Commission (EC), seeking the water lily as its election symbol.
A delegation from the NCP submitted the application to the EC on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking to reporters after submitting the application, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwary said, “Today is a day to restore democracy. Under the leadership of students, a mass uprising took place in Bangladesh. We face a challenge to usher in a ballot revolution. In the next Parliament, we aim to secure 300 out of 400 seats, as recommended by the proposed reform and consensus commission. NCP will form the next national government and, with a public mandate, fulfill the duties of the reform council through a ballot revolution.”
Patwary also alleged that party offices had been blocked in several places and that party agents had been infiltrated and then forced to resign by other political parties. “This is the nature of the political culture in Bangladesh,” he added.
He further stated, “Just as the people triumphed in the August 5 mass uprising, so too will they achieve a voting revolution in the upcoming parliamentary elections with NCP’s water lily symbol. Under NCP’s leadership, a new government will be formed.”
He added that the party had also proposed the pen as its second symbol and the mobile phone as its third. However, NCP is requesting the EC to award them the water lily symbol.
Replying to a question, he noted that the Election Commission is a constitutional body but has been weakened over the past 15 years. “We want to rebuild and strengthen this commission,” Patwary said. “Through the people’s right to vote, we will show that real change is possible.”
NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain noted that the party had completed all formalities as per the Representation of the People Order (RPO) for registration. “The Election Commission has accepted our application and provided us with a receipt,” he added.
Party leaders including Chief Organizer (Northern region) Sarjis Alam and Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin, among others, were also present at the EC.