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conch, sewing machine, sofa, suitcase, deer, duck and helicopter.

Contacted regarding the EC letter, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said, “The party had requested shapla or red shapla as its electoral symbol, but did not receive a proper response from the EC. Now the commission has sent a letter regarding the choice of symbol, but it doesn’t bear a response to our request. We will ask the EC for a specific explanation.”

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser (south) of NCP, said the party is “strict” about the shapla symbol, as it connects with marginalised people similar to the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol.

Meanwhile, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna yesterday said on Facebook, “If the shapla symbol is given to them (NCP), I will not file any case. But I will protest. Since we applied earlier, if shapla is allotted as a symbol, it rightfully belongs to Nagorik Oikya.”