Khaleda Zia is a symbol of independence, sovereignty and unity: Salahuddin

BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed today said that Begum Khaleda Zia, BNP chairperson and former prime minister, is a symbol of independence, sovereignty and unity in Bangladesh.

"And 'Dhaner Shis' [paddy sheaf] is the symbol of democracy in the country. Therefore, to protect the nation and its democracy, people should vote for the symbol of 'Paddy Sheaf' in the upcoming election and seek votes for it to  go 'door to door'," he said.

Salahuddin, also BNP-nominated candidate for Cox's Bazar-1 (Chakaria-Pekua) constituency, made the remarks at a public outreach in Taitong on Wednesday afternoon in his birthplace Pekua Barbakia and Shilkhali Unions for election mass coordination. 

He said, "I have had the opportunity to meet you after 12-14 years. For this, I am immensely grateful to Allah. It is because of your prayers that Allah has kept me alive."

"As you all know, the fascist Sheikh Hasina government abducted me with the intention of killing me. It is because Allah has kept me alive and with everyone's prayers that I'm able to appear before you today," he added.

Urging prayers for Khaleda Zia's speedy recovery, the senior BNP leader said, "Begum Zia is the symbol of unity in the country. I request everyone to pray to Allah for our leader's speedy recovery so that she can return to us.

Similarly, please pray for our leader Tarique Rahman and the rest of us."

Mentioning that Tarique Rahman will lead the country, Insha Allah, he said, "I hope that you will be able to freely and independently express your opinions and votes in a fair, peaceful, and impartial election in the coming days in a beautiful environment. My request is that you all go door to door and seek votes for the 'Sheaf of Paddy'."