Dhaka, Bangladesh Global: BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday responded to National Citizen Party's (NCP) demand that the Election Commission remove certain symbols, including "sheaf of paddy", if NCP is not allocated its preferred "shapla" (water lily) symbol.
"Brother, we have not stopped you from getting any symbol. The Election Commission will decide which symbol to give you. We never said you could not be given that symbol. So why this needless tug of war over BNP's sheaf of paddy?" Mirza Fakhrul said at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in Dhaka.
Mirza Fakhrul accused rivals of trying to weaken BNP's grassroots strength by targeting its symbol, which he described as a unifying force for the party's supporters.
The BNP leader urged the government to ensure neutrality of the bureaucracy, the Election Commission, and state institutions during the upcoming polls. "Once again, we want to make it clear to the present government that it must play a completely neutral role. Otherwise, we will not accept it, and the people of this country will not accept it either," he warned.
He also reiterated BNP's demand that the national election be held within the February 2026 timeframe set by the party's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The discussion was organised by the Jihad Smriti Parishad, marking the 35th death anniversary of Jatiyabadi Chhatra Dal activist Nazir Uddin Ahmed Jihad.
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