EC removes ‘boat’ symbol from website

The Election Commission (EC) has removed the ‘Boat’ symbol of the Bangladesh Awami League from its official website following the suspension of the party’s registration.

Until Tuesday, the ‘Boat’ symbol appeared alongside the party name listed as “Bangladesh Awami League (registration suspended)” on the EC website. However, from Wednesday morning, the symbol was no longer visible.

Confirming the development, EC Secretariat System Manager Md. Rafiqul Haque stated the symbol was removed on instructions from higher authorities.

Earlier, on Tuesday night, local government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan criticized the Election Commission in a Facebook post, questioning the decision to reschedule the ‘Boat’ symbol for the party. “Under what consideration did you send the cursed ‘Boat’ symbol again to the Ministry of Law for scheduling?” he asked, adding that the EC’s move ignored public sentiment.

In response, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud explained that electoral symbols are never banned. “The ‘Boat’ symbol is allocated to a party and remains with the Election Commission. Even if the party is dissolved, the symbol does not get canceled and can be reassigned,” he said.

Currently, the EC has 69 symbols registered, with 50 allocated to political parties—including the suspended Bangladesh Awami League—and 19 reserved for independent candidates. After final approval from the Ministry of Law, the total number of symbols is expected to rise to 115, including Jamaat-e-Islami’s former symbol, the ‘Scale’.