No external pressure behind removing boat symbol

The Election Commission (EC) has clarified that the removal of the Awami League’s electoral symbol ‘boat from its website was a deliberate decision to prevent confusion, not a response to external pressure.

Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed addressed the issue during a press conference at the NIrbachan Bhaban on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

“The boat symbol was removed from the EC website because I felt it was appropriate,” Ahmed stated. “There was no pressure involved. While the boat has been removed from the website, it remains in the Bidhamala, and no other party will be assigned this symbol.”

The EC’s move involved stripping details such as the Awami League’s registration date, symbol, and symbol name from its website. Ahmed emphasized that this step was taken to ensure clarity for the public and stakeholders, addressing potential misunderstandings about the status of the symbol amid ongoing political developments.

The clarification comes as the Awami League faces scrutiny following its ban, with the boat symbol, a long-standing emblem of the party, remaining a sensitive issue in Bangladesh’s polarized political landscape.