NCP Seeks EC Registration, Prefers ‘Shapla’ as Symbol

A delegation of NCP leaders, led by Convener Md Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, submitted the application at the EC headquarters around 4:00 pm on Sunday—the final day of the extended deadline for new party registrations.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has formally submitted its application for registration as a political party with the Election Commission (EC), naming the 'Shapla' (Water Lily) as its first-choice electoral symbol ahead of the upcoming national elections.

A delegation of NCP leaders, led by Convener Md Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, submitted the application at the EC headquarters around 4:00 pm on Sunday—the final day of the extended deadline for new party registrations.

"We have submitted our application after fulfilling all the requirements under the Representation of the People Order (RPO). The EC has received our documents and issued an official receipt," Akhtar Hossain told reporters following the submission.

While the party proposed three electoral symbols—Shapla, Pen, and Mobile Phone—it has expressed a strong preference for the Shapla, a nationally recognised symbol traditionally associated with unity and resilience.

Speaking at the EC premises, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari said, "On August 5, the people of Bangladesh achieved a historic victory through a mass uprising. In the coming parliamentary election, that same spirit will drive the Shapla symbol to victory nationwide. Under NCP’s leadership, we will form a new, inclusive government.”

Other leaders present during the submission included Chief Coordinator (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam, Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin, and several activists and organisers.

The National Citizen Party was officially launched on 28 February 2025, in the aftermath of the July–August 2024 mass uprising that led to the fall of the Awami League government. The party positions itself as a platform for inclusive, citizen-led governance and has pledged to contest in the upcoming elections as a symbol of political renewal.

With today marking the end of the EC's extended deadline, the commission witnessed a rush of last-minute applications, with at least two dozen new parties submitting their paperwork. The EC had originally invited applications on March 10, with the initial deadline set for April 20. Following multiple appeals—including one from the NCP—the deadline was extended to June 22.

According to the EC’s rules, political parties seeking registration must meet stringent criteria. These include operating a functioning central office and having effective committees in at least one-third of the country’s administrative districts. Each party must also demonstrate documented support from a minimum of 200 registered voters in at least 100 upazilas or metropolitan police stations.

The application must also include ten sets of information, such as the party’s constitution, electoral manifesto (if available), rules and regulations, logo, flag, names and contact details of central committee members, bank account information, a recent bank statement, and a non-refundable registration fee of Tk 5,000.

The Election Commission will now begin scrutinising the submitted documents to verify whether the applicants meet all the criteria. If the requirements are fulfilled, parties will be granted official registration along with a designated electoral symbol, allowing them to participate in the next parliamentary polls.