Bangles, vanity bag symbols to go in future: EC

Election Commission Secretary Sirazul Islam on Thursday said the election symbols such bangles, gas stove and vanity bag for women candidates will be removed in the future.

“The election symbols that undermine women will not be selected in the upcoming union parishad elections. Necessary changes will be brought in the election rules in this regard,” he said.

The EC Secretary came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at his office after a six-member delegation of Jatiyabadi Mahila Dal submitted a memorandum to the EC protesting the existing polls symbols for councillor candidates in the reserved (women) seats of municipalities.

Sirazul Islam said now it is not possible to remove polls symbols as the election schedule has already announced and common ballot papers for women councillor for reserved seats have already printed. “We’ll select the symbols carefully in the future,” he said.

The EC Secretary said he also received an instruction from the Chief Election Commissioner to take off such election symbols in the future.

The symbols were picked incautiously as the commission had to change the municipal election rules hurriedly in line with the amendment to the Municipal Act, he added.

Earlier in the day, the Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal delegation, led by Shirin Sultana, met the EC Secretary and placed the memorandum demanding the Commission change the symbols.

In the memorandum, it said the symbols are very shameful, regretful and insulting for women. Women should be given the due respect by changing the symbols.

In the Local Government (Municipality) Election Rules, 10 symbols, including bangles, frock, gas stove, vanity bag and doll, were set aside for female councillor candidates in the reserved seats of the municipality, triggering widespread criticisms by various quarters.

The five other symbols are chocolate, grape, scissor, bees and harmonium.