Following criticism over a video showing him carrying a pistol during an anti-drug drive in Dhaka, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain has said he will use bamboo sticks instead of firearms to destroy drug dens.
In a post on his verified Facebook account on Sunday night, October 18, he criticized media coverage of the drive and said drug dens would be razed.
“Some renowned media outlets have panels of renowned lawyers through whom they can seek clear explanations of the law, and I believe they practise this. Despite knowing and understanding everything, the way they are reporting makes it seem that they were exclusive suppliers of drugs in the ‘ghuntighor’. That is why they are behaving like wild animals after my drive. Wait and see. All drug dens (which may be financing these papers) will be levelled to the ground,” he wrote.
“I had a legally licensed firearm for my personal security. From now on, I will destroy these dens with bamboo sticks. The police will stand and watch, and the offenders will be arrested in front of a magistrate and taken away. The 16 aspects of the anti-drug struggle will be fulfilled, insha’Allah,” he added.
On Saturday, Ishraque Hossain, the member of parliament for Dhaka-6, took part in an anti-drug drive near the Gandaria railway line.
A video shared on Facebook showed him carrying a hand microphone and a pistol as he chased people, pulled back the pistol’s slide and pointed it at them while ordering them to stop. Others accompanying him were also seen carrying firearms.
The video raised questions about whether a licensed personal firearm could be displayed in this manner and whether an elected representative could personally conduct an armed anti-drug drive.
On Sunday, Detective Branch (DB) chief and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said the relevant deputy commissioner had been asked to review the incident locally and submit a report. He said police would take action under the law if any violation was found.
Ishraque Hossain claimed that 30–35 people had approached his convoy aggressively during a social anti-drug resistance program. He said he and his security personnel had briefly raised their firearms to prevent a possible attack.
He also claimed that, with assistance from local police, they had removed 4–5 drug dens, recovered drugs and weapons, and detained 6 people before handing them over to the police.
