The incident involving Liberation War Affairs State Minister and Dhaka-6 MP Ishraque Hossain raising a firearm during an anti-drug drive has caused unease within the BNP and the government, triggering widespread criticism on social media.
Ishraque conducted a surprise raid on a suspected drug den in a slum beside the railway tracks in Ward No. 45 under Gandaria Police Station in Dhaka-6 on Saturday. Six people were detained on suspicion of involvement in drug trading.
While people concerned have welcomed the campaign against drug dens across the country, questions have been raised over the minister’s approach.
Although there is support for efforts to curb drug trafficking, the minister’s actions have reportedly put the government in an uncomfortable position.
Social media users have been closely scrutinising the incident, particularly Ishraque’s participation in an anti-drug operation without the direct involvement of law enforcement agencies and his display of a firearm.
The controversy started after a video of the incident was uploaded to the minister’s own official Facebook page. Many questioned his decision to conduct such an operation as a state minister, brandish a firearm and publicise the incident on social media. Others also raised questions about the role of law enforcement agencies.
What actually happened
Ishraque led the surprise raid on Saturday afternoon in the Doyaganj Ghuntighar Railway Gate area beside Gandaria Railway Station in the capital.
At around 5:15pm, a video of the operation was uploaded to the Facebook page of the Dhaka-6 MP and state minister for Liberation War Affairs. Its caption read: “Ishraque’s action: Drug den demolished, dealers handed over to police.”
The video quickly spread across social media.
It showed Ishraque getting out of a vehicle with a handheld loudspeaker in one hand and a pistol in the other before chasing a group of people. He was seen pulling back the pistol’s slide, apparently preparing it to fire, pointing it towards the group and shouting at them.
BNP's Reaction
BNP leaders have expressed discomfort over the conduct of a state minister. They said they had no objection to the need for anti-drug initiatives but questioned the way Ishraque carried out the operation.
However, no BNP leader was willing to put their criticism on the record.
A BNP lawmaker, commenting on the incident, said he himself owned a licensed firearm, but having a licence did not mean it could be used in any situation:
“A firearm may be used if self-defence is necessary and the circumstances warrant it. Otherwise, it cannot be used. Ishraque Hossain is a state minister. He should have been more responsible. If an ordinary person becomes frightened by seeing my firearm, that must also be taken into consideration. Having a firearm licence does not mean it can be displayed in any manner. I do not think what he did can be considered normal. Acting in this way is never appropriate."
The fact that Ishraque resorted to his gun during a drive against drugs, rather than some other situation, does not excuse it, in his opinion.
"Let me reiterate that drugs are a serious problem. But even if the objective of an initiative is good, procedural mistakes cannot be justified. It is essential to act in accordance with the law," the lawmaker said.
Despite the intense criticism, some people have also defended Ishraque’s actions.
Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Md Rashed Khan praised the minister’s firm stance against drugs, describing his initiative as commendable. However, he also advised Ishraque to exercise greater caution in the future.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani declined to comment when asked about the incident after Sunday’s Cabinet meeting.
Facing criticism, Ishraque issued a statement on Sunday claiming that 30 to 35 people approached his motorcade in an aggressive manner while making a commotion after he reached a makeshift drug den.
Fearing an attack, he and his government security personnel briefly raised their firearms in self-defence, he said. The weapons were lowered after the situation returned to normal, according to the statement.
The state minister also outlined steps he had previously taken to curb the spread of drugs in the area. He said he had taken initiatives to establish a permanent police outpost and address the shortage of personnel.
He also claimed that he had participated in a social resistance programme based on discussions with police and local political and social leaders.
However, questions remain over whether the operation had been coordinated with police beforehand. Although Ishraque referred to previous discussions with police, he told the media on Saturday that he had asked police to arrive at the scene 10 minutes after reaching the area.
In a post on Sunday, Ishraque said: “From now on, we will destroy these dens with bamboo sticks. The police will stand by and watch, then arrest them in front of a magistrate and take them away. Inshallah, we will take the anti-drug struggle to its fullest form.”
Legal questions
Alongside questions about whether Ishraque’s firearm was legally licensed, the manner in which he displayed it in public has also come under scrutiny.
The Home Ministry’s Firearms Licence Issuance, Renewal and Use Policy, 2025, sets out conditions for carrying and using firearms for self-defence, while also placing restrictions on displaying them.
Under Clause 25 of the policy, a person may carry or use a firearm licensed in their own name for self-defence, but may not display it in a manner that could cause fear or annoyance to others.
Police will investigate whether any legal provisions were violated in Ishraque’s case.
Speaking at a press conference at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media Centre on Sunday, Detective Branch (DB) chief Shafiqul Islam said the deputy commissioner of the Wari Division had been assigned to investigate the incident.
He said legal action would be taken in accordance with the law if the investigation found any violation.