A night of conflicting reports, denials and statements over the possible resignation of State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain ended with him announcing on Monday morning that he would formally declare his resignation at a press conference at the National Press Club at 2pm.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Ishraque wrote: “Today at 2pm, at the National Press Club, I will make a formal announcement regarding my resignation from the position of State Minister for Liberation War Affairs and will speak with journalists—insha’Allah.”
He also addressed his critics on social media and pledged to intensify his campaign against drugs, saying he would do so not as a state minister or member of parliament, but as a BNP activist.
What happened
Ishraque came under scrutiny after a video circulated showing him brandishing a pistol during an anti-drug operation near the Dayaganj Guntighar railway gate, close to Gendaria railway station in the capital. In the footage, he is seen holding a firearm aloft and ordering people to stop, while others accompanying him also appear to be carrying guns.
The video raised questions about whether a licence for a personal firearm permits its public display in such circumstances and whether a state minister should personally lead an armed anti-drug operation.
On Sunday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch chief Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said the deputy commissioner of the Wari division had been tasked with investigating the incident and submitting a report. Appropriate action would be taken if any violation of the law was found, he said.
Meanwhile, media reports emerged that the prime minister had summoned Ishraque after a cabinet meeting and instructed him to resign.
Ishraque dismissed the reports later on Sunday night, saying: “There is no truth to this as of now. If the party makes any such decision, you will be informed.”
His press officer, Mahfuz Kabir Mukta, subsequently issued a statement describing the reports as “completely untrue, baseless, fabricated, and politically motivated”.
The statement said no directive for Ishraque’s resignation had come from the highest levels of government and that the question of his resignation did not arise. It also warned of legal action against those responsible if the reports were not withdrawn.
The confusion deepened when state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) aired a report saying the prime minister had ordered Ishraque to resign at around 10:30pm. After the state minister’s office issued its statement, BTV replaced the report with a statement from Ishraque.
Ishraque had attended the cabinet meeting. Earlier reports said he was summoned to the Prime Minister’s Office, where dissatisfaction with his conduct was expressed and a draft resignation letter was handed to him. However, several cabinet meeting attendees said the matter was not discussed during the meeting.
Asked by journalists whether the issue had been raised, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani said: “There was no discussion on this matter.” He declined to comment further when pressed, noting that the Cabinet Division oversees matters relating to ministers and state ministers.
Vows to intensify anti-drug campaign
In his Facebook post on Monday morning, Ishraque also took aim at critics who had expressed satisfaction over the developments.
“I noticed some ‘civil society’ figures on Facebook expressing glee [over recent events]. I hope that if the need for a movement or struggle arises in the future, they will draw inspiration from nationalist ideals, return home from abroad, and join the cause,” he wrote.
He pledged to continue his anti-drug campaign with greater determination, saying: “Moving forward—not as a member of parliament or a state minister, but as a BNP activist—I will work against the drug menace with a hundred times more zeal, insha’Allah. Our ‘clean-up’ campaign will be further intensified.”
He also said he planned to visit different districts to strengthen the organisational capacity of Projonmo Dal nationwide.
“Not a minister—but the eradication of drugs!” he wrote.
On Sunday night, Ishraque had also vowed to continue anti-drug operations. He said that although he had previously carried a legally licensed firearm for personal protection during such operations, he would use a bamboo staff in future to dismantle drug dens. Police would monitor the operations and arrest suspects in the presence of a magistrate, he added.
Explaining the incident involving the firearm, Ishraque claimed that 30 to 35 people had approached his convoy in a hostile manner during Saturday’s anti-drug campaign. He said he and his security personnel briefly displayed their weapons to prevent a possible attack.
He also claimed that, with help from local police, they had dismantled several drug dens, recovered narcotics and weapons, and apprehended six people who were later handed over to police.
Police are investigating whether the display of firearms violated the law and have said action would be taken if any offence is established.
Ishraque, the son of late BNP leader and former minister and mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, is scheduled to address a press conference at the National Press Club at 2pm on Monday to formally announce his decision.