, Oct. 27 -- BNP leader Kader Gani Chowdhury has urged voters to elect candidates contesting the upcoming election with the 'Sheaf of Paddy', describing it as a symbol of development and a safeguard for democracy.

Addressing a rally at Heyako Bazar in Fatikchhari after distributing BNP's 31-point leaflet on state reforms on Monday, Kader Gani, also the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Federal Journalists' Union, said, "Those who do not value the country's independence cannot ensure its safety. Elect the Sheaf of Paddy candidate to protect sovereignty and strengthen democracy."

He criticised repeated democratic crises, authoritarian rule, corruption and political vengeance since independence, terming BNP's 31-point plan a roadmap for ...