The Shapla (water lily), the national emblem of Bangladesh, is not only a symbol of the country’s independence and identity but also features prominently in the logos of 25 key state institutions.
Institutions Featuring the Shapla Symbol
Some of the notable organisations that incorporate the Shapla in their logos include:
- President’s Office
- Chief Adviser’s Office
- Parliament House
- Bangladesh Army
- Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI)
- National Security Intelligence (NSI)
- Bangladesh Police
- Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)
- Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)
- Special Security Force (SSF)
- PGRC
- Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
- Bangladesh Coast Guard
- Passport and National ID (NID)
- Bangladeshi Currency (Taka)
- And several others.
Political Neutrality
According to the Department of Military Public Information (DMPI) and related sources, the use of the Shapla symbol in these state institutions prevents it from being adopted as a political party emblem.
For instance:
- In the 2013 national elections, the Bangladesh Congress requested to use the Shapla as their party symbol, but the Election Commission denied the request.
- Later, the Nagorik Oikya Party also failed to obtain permission to adopt the Shapla as their symbol.
