NCP will take to streets if denied ‘shapla’ symbol: Sarjis

Northern region chief organiser of the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP), Sarjis Alam, has warned that the party will take to the streets if the Election Commission (EC) refuses to allocate the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) as its electoral symbol.

“We have spoken with several lawmakers, legal experts and constitutional specialists. They have all confirmed that there is no legal bar to granting the Shapla as an election symbol. Yet, the Election Commission is withholding it. If they don’t even have that much independence, how can we trust them to conduct a fair election?” Sarjis said.

He added that if the NCP is forced to stage political programmes to secure the Shapla symbol, it will simultaneously launch a movement demanding reconstitution of the Election Commission.

Sarjis made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a coordination meeting at the Kishoreganj District Shilpakala Auditorium around 1:45pm on Sunday.

He further said that the NCP had not signed the July Charter because there was no assurance of its implementation. “The NCP did not sign merely to stay relevant in the election race. The day there is a guarantee of the July Charter’s execution, we will sign it on behalf of the people,” he added.

According to him, neither the Awami League, BNP nor Jamaat-e-Islami can alone lead on crucial national issues such as resisting Indian hegemony, implementing the July Charter, or ensuring judicial reforms. “In such circumstances, NCP’s participation and cooperation are essential,” he stated.

Earlier in the day, the coordination meeting began at 11:30am with recitation from the Holy Qur’an, the national anthem, and one minute of silence in memory of the martyrs of the July Movement. The event was chaired by Joint Member Secretary of the Central Committee, Ahnaf Saeed Khan, and conducted by District Organiser Ikram Hossain. Central leaders including Dhaka Divisional Organiser Saifullah Hayder, Khairul Kabir and Didar Shah were also present.

At the press conference, Sarjis said the NCP was visiting districts nationwide to strengthen the party ahead of the election. “Within the next 15 days, district committees will be formed in all districts, and by December, upazila-level committees will also be completed,” he said.

In response to a question, Sarjis alleged that individuals affiliated with major political parties were embedded throughout the administration. “Some officers introduce themselves as being from certain parties — ‘I am an officer-in-charge of this party, I am a superintendent of that party’ — simply to gain benefits. Action must be taken against them,” he asserted.

He also alleged that some individuals involved in killing protesters during their movement were colluding with officials in the administration and judiciary to secure bail. “High Court benches still have Awami League loyalists who are granting bail to the accused. The government must remain alert about this,” he warned.

Sarjis added that those who opposed the July Movement would not be allowed to join the NCP. “We will take legal action against them. The NCP will not enter any alliance merely for a few seats. We will only ally with those committed to implementing the July Charter and resisting Indian dominance and its domestic collaborators such as the Awami League and Jatiya Party,” he said.

Strict security measures were taken by law enforcement around the Shilpakala Academy and surrounding areas during the event.