Election bosses plan to add dozens of new voting symbols for candidates ahead of the next big vote. The Election Commission wants to boost the number from 69 symbols to 115 different options. Officials have already sent the final draft rules to the government ministry for approval. The gazette notification will come out soon once everything gets the green light. More than a hundred fresh political parties have asked for official registration recently.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmel Masud confirmed that 115 symbols made the final cut for politicians to choose from. The commission decided against including the water lily and magpie robin symbols after much debate. These two particular symbols caused arguments among political groups during earlier discussions. Officials sent the amended election rules to the Ministry of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs on Wednesday. Additional Secretary KM Ali Newaz handled the paperwork transfer between departments.
The symbol count has changed dramatically over the years since independence. Back in 2008 elections featured 140 different symbols for candidates across the country. Officials later split the symbols between national parliament races and local government contests. They slashed the number by half when they rewrote the election rules in 2017.
The new list includes everyday items like apples, computers, helicopters and mobile phones. Traditional objects like drums, ploughs and rickshaws also made the approved roster. Animals feature heavily with tigers, elephants, peacocks and crocodiles getting spots. Household items range from refrigerators and sofas to simple things like buckets and candles.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmel Masud confirmed that 115 symbols made the final cut for politicians to choose from. The commission decided against including the water lily and magpie robin symbols after much debate. These two particular symbols caused arguments among political groups during earlier discussions. Officials sent the amended election rules to the Ministry of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs on Wednesday. Additional Secretary KM Ali Newaz handled the paperwork transfer between departments.
The symbol count has changed dramatically over the years since independence. Back in 2008 elections featured 140 different symbols for candidates across the country. Officials later split the symbols between national parliament races and local government contests. They slashed the number by half when they rewrote the election rules in 2017.
The new list includes everyday items like apples, computers, helicopters and mobile phones. Traditional objects like drums, ploughs and rickshaws also made the approved roster. Animals feature heavily with tigers, elephants, peacocks and crocodiles getting spots. Household items range from refrigerators and sofas to simple things like buckets and candles.
