Calling the grassroots level leaders pillars of the party, BNP Senior Secretary General Tarique Rahman said their support and cooperation will help to strengthen the party in rural areas.

Sustainable development of the country is not possible without development of rural areas, Tarique said, adding, "We have come to the local leaders to share their views and ideas for the development of the rural people as well as the country."

People voted for BNP again and again as they felt the party can run the country well and ensure their safety, he said.

Tarique Rahman said the government has already decided to provide Tk 600 crore subsidy for fertilisers.

The daylong conference was participated by around 1700 union and ward-level representatives from Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Panchagarh districts.

Appreciating the central leaders of the party for organising such a conference, local BNP leaders said they (local leaders) should be included in the development process.

"If BNP can make its base stronger in rural areas, none will be able to stop its march forward," said advocate M Ashraful Islam, an Atwari upazila leader of the party.

Earlier, inaugurating the first grassroots level conference Health and Family Welfare Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said BNP always wants to hear the local leaders as they are the safeguards of the party.

He urged the grassroots leaders to be aware of the opposition's conspiracy against BNP.

Local representatives emphasised controlling the price hike of essentials, providing fertilizers, seeds and other agri-inputs to the farmers in order to ensure winning in the next elections.

They also urged the party high command to be aware of some opportunist party leaders who are always busy gaining their personal interests.

A number of ministers, lawmakers and senior BNP leaders, including Barrister Aminul Haq, Abdulah Al Noman, Amanullah Aman, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Barkatullah Bulu, Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, Advocate Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, Asadul Habib Dulu, Joynal Abedin Farook MP, Hawa Bhaban spokesman Ashik Islam, Advocate Moazzem Hossain Alal, Mofiqul Hasan Tripti and Syed Emran Saleh Prince, attended the conference.

Earlier, letters containing the 18 points were sent to 49,823 participants.

All the representatives were given an audiocassette and five books each containing the party's ideology, programmes and success stories.

18 other conferences will be held in Kushtia, Cox's Bazar, Comilla, Gopalganj, Bhola, Barisal, Natore, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Patia, Khulna, Sylhet, Srimongol, Mymensingh, Lalmonirhat, Noakhali, Dhaka and Jamalpur.