Desk Report: Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mannan, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami nominee and 11-party alliance-backed MP candidate for Dhaka-6, has said, "Our main goal is to ensure the safety of ordinary businessmen in Old Dhaka and make this area completely free from extortion and terrorism."

He made this statement as the chief guest at an election meeting organized by the fruit traders of Wajghat Badamtoli in the capital on Wednesday (January 28).

Dr. Abdul Mannan made several important promises for the development of the area. He said, "There is no government hospital in the Dhaka-6 constituency, which is very unfortunate for the residents. If elected, I will establish a modern government hospital here."

Addressing the workers, he said special scholarships would be introduced for their children and all kinds of extortion in the name of lease in Sadarghat would be stopped. He also pledged to make Buriganga a picturesque tourist center, free from encroachment and pollution.

The meeting was chaired by Maulana Matiur Rahman, Amir of Kotwali South Thana, and conducted by Abu Bakar Siddiqui, Thana Finance Secretary. Hafiz Haji Enayetullah, MP candidate for Dhaka-7, was present as a special guest.

Haji Enayetullah said, "We will go to vote after Fajr prayer and, InshaAllah, will have iftar with the results. On the 12th, all terrorism and extortion will be answered through the ballot."

He added, "Dr. Abdul Mannan and I will work together to protect and restore the Buriganga River if we win."

Other speakers included prominent businessman Shamsul Haq Khokon of Ward 37 and local labor leaders. A massive procession was taken out after the election meeting, which ended with a street meeting in front of Sutrapur Thana after circling various roads of Old Dhaka.