Ariful Islam Adib, the Dhaka-18 constituency candidate representing a ten-party alliance, pledged to stand by entrepreneurs and businessmen in Uttara to prevent politically motivated extortion. He made the commitment on Friday, January 23, during a street rally in Uttara’s Sector 12 as part of his second day of election campaigning. Adib stated that businessmen in the area have been subjected to repeated extortion and vowed to build a just constituency free from coercion.

During his speech, Adib emphasized safeguarding every citizen’s vote and ensuring a peaceful election process. He warned that any attempt to obstruct voters would be resisted, even at personal risk. The Jamaat-NCP alliance candidate also criticized the lack of civic initiatives in Uttara, citing severe traffic congestion and inadequate municipal services despite the area being under city corporation jurisdiction for about a decade.

Supporters from the ten-party alliance, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Khelafat Majlis, conducted campaign activities across Uttara, distributing leaflets bearing the alliance’s symbol after Friday prayers at Azampur Central Jame Mosque.