Symbol list yet to be finalised

The Election Commission (EC) could not finalise the list of contesting candidates with their election symbols as some political alliances are yet to withdraw their additional candidatures from around 60 parliamentary constituencies.
Moreover, the commission finds problem in printing ballot papers as it cannot finalise the total candidates in race for the December 29 general election.
According to EC estimate, a total of 8.14 crore ballots have to be printed for the ninth parliamentary election.
Usually, after publication of the final list of candidatures along with election symbols, the Election Commission starts printing ballot papers.
An EC high official said although the commission has enlisted 1,537 candidates allocating them symbols to date (Saturday afternoon), the figure will decrease after getting the final list in hand.
He said the commission urged the political parties to solve the problem in around 60 constituencies as early as possible.
According to the EC, 1,537 candidates from 39 registered political parties as well as independent candidates were given election symbols.
Among them, boat symbol of Awami League was given to 266 while sheaf of paddy of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) allocated to 262 candidates.
The symbols for other parties are umbrella (Liberal Democratic Party)-18, bicycle (Jatiya Party)-7, wheel (Samyabadi Dal) -1, gamchha (Krishak Sramik Janata Dal) -46, sickle (Communist Party of Bangladesh) -37, pigeon (Ganatantri Party) -5, hut (Bangladesh National Awami Party) -12, hammer (Workers Party of Bangladesh) - 2, winnowing fan (Bikalpadhara Bangladesh) -80, plough (Jatiya Party-Ershad) -46, torch (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal) -2, star (JSD) -44, rose (Zaker Party) -37, ladder (Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal) -57, flower garland (Torikat Federation) -31, scale (Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami) -39, banyan tree (Khilafat Andolan) -31, lantern (Muslim League) -4, mango (NPP) -29, date tree (Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam) -5, rising sun (Gono Forum) -45, fish (Gono Front) -14, tiger (PDP) -4, cow (Bangladesh NAP) -7, jackfruit (Bangladesh Jatiya Party) -10, key (Oikyabaddha Nagorik Andolan) -11, chair (Islami Oikya Front) -2, wristwatch (Kalyan Party) -39, dome/ minaret (Islami Oikya Jote) -2, rickshaw (Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish) -8, hand fan (Islami Andolan) -167, candle ( Bangladesh Islami Front) -18, spade (Biplobi Workers Party of Bangladesh) -5 and axe (Freedom Party) 2.