EC bins Jamaat plea to drop ‘Daripalla’ from ballots

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's request to remove its party symbol, the "Daripalla" (Scale), from ballot papers in seven parliamentary constituencies has been turned down by the Election Commission (EC).

In a letter signed on Thursday (January 29) by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain and sent to Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, the commission said the request was not permissible under the law.

Citing Article 16(2) of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, the EC noted that once a symbol is officially allotted, it cannot be withdrawn.