According to a report by Desh Rupantor, the Election Commission has officially granted the Shapla (Water Lily) symbol to the National Citizen Party.
For NCP, this moment marks more than registration - it’s recognition.
With this symbol, NCP aims to position itself as a people-first alternative in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
The Election Commission initially hesitated to grant the Shapla to NCP, arguing that it is already used in national institutions, including the state emblem.
But NCP countered that logic. They pointed out that other national symbols are already in political use — te Sheaf of Paddy (Dhaner Shish) is part of various national entities, and the Scale (Daripalla) represents Bangladesh’s court system.
If those can coexist in public and political spaces, NCP argued, then the Shapla should not be an exception.
But this isn’t the first time a political symbol has carried such weight. From the Sheaf of Paddy to the Scale and the Plough, each icon tells a story about power, people, and identity.
The Sheaf of Paddy (ধানের শীষ) of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
Born from Bhashani’s Krishak Sramik Party’s legacy, BNP adopted the Sheaf of Paddy in 1978 to symbolize rural strength and people’s resilience.
It connects the party to Bangladesh’s farmers — the backbone of its political narrative.
The Scale (দাঁড়িপাল্লা) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
For Jamaat, the Scale represents fairness and divine justice.
After years without registration, the party reclaimed both its status and its symbol in 2025.
The Plough (লাঙ্গল) of Bangladesh Jatiya Party
The Plough traces back to the Bangladesh National League, which used it in the 1973 election before fading out. Ershad’s Jatiya Party later inherited the Plough, redefining it as a symbol of labour, land, and national progress.
The Shapla Struggle: Fairness or Favouritism?
Desh Rupantor confirmed that the National Citizen Party has finally been granted the Shapla symbol — but NCP says the road to get there was anything but fair.
According to party leaders, the Election Commission dragged out the process intentionally, while the Jatiya League — another new party without even a proper office — received its registration smoothly.
To NCP, the Shapla isn’t just a political mark; it’s proof of endurance in an uneven system.
What began as a bureaucratic battle has now turned into a statement of defiance.
