Why the needless tussle over the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol? Asks BNP Secretary General

Staff Reporter | PNN:
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that unnecessary controversy is being created over the party’s election symbol, the “Sheaf of Paddy.” He said, “Brother, we have not obstructed anyone’s symbol. Which party gets which symbol is the decision of the Election Commission. So why all this fuss over BNP’s symbol?”

He made the remarks while delivering the main speech at a memorial meeting held on Friday (October 10) at the Engineers Institution Auditorium in Ramna to mark the 35th martyrdom anniversary of Nazir Uddin Jehad. The event was organized by the Shahid Jehad Memorial Council.

Recently the National Citizens Party (NCP) requested the Election Commission to allot it the ‘Shapla’ (water lily) symbol as part of its registration demands and has conditioned that the ‘Dhan’ (paddy) or ‘Sonali Aansh’ symbols be withdrawn. It was in this context that the BNP secretary general spoke.

Fakhrul said, “Some parties are now issuing threats — saying they will not participate in the election unless a certain symbol is given. We never said your symbol should not be given. Then why all this headache over our Sheaf of Paddy?”

Describing the Sheaf of Paddy as a symbol of popular resistance and change, he added, “You cannot stop the Sheaf of Paddy. In the villages people are chanting ‘plant paddy, plant paddy’ — that is the strength of the movement. That is why they are afraid. Because if the Sheaf of Paddy wins, the enemies will be defeated.”

Hinting at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the BNP leader said, “Monster Sheikh Hasina did not flee to Delhi on a whim; she was forced to go. We built that base by struggling for fifteen years, bleeding and fighting.”

He also said, “Democracy is not built in a few days. It requires sacrifice, hard work and connecting with the people. BNP is the party that goes to the people and fights for democracy.”

Urging that the civil administration and the Election Commission remain neutral, Fakhrul alleged, “There is an attempt to put the bureaucracy into the pocket of a particular party. We will not tolerate that. During elections the administration and the commission must be completely neutral and not bow to any party.”

The meeting was chaired by Amanullah Aman, adviser to the BNP chairperson. He recalled martyr Nazir Jehad and said, “We vowed to end autocracy when we laid Jehad’s body before the Shahbagh—police baton-charged us the next day, but ultimately autocracy was overthrown. We will overthrow injustice again.”

Others who spoke at the event included BNP Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon, Asaduzzaman Ripon and other party leaders.