Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Tuesday said the National Citizen Party (NCP) will not be allowed to use the Shapla (water lily) symbol.

He said the NCP must select an alternative symbol and inform the EC by October 19. Otherwise, the Commission will assign a different symbol during registration.

Responding to a question from journalists at the EC building in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Tuesday (October 14), Akhtar Ahmed made the remarks.

He further said the party must submit its demand for an alternative symbol by the 19th. If it refuses to accept registration without Shapla, that will be its own decision.