Ishraque Hossain has announced his resignation as state minister for Liberation War affairs.
The Dhaka-6 lawmaker made the announcement at a press conference around 3pm on Monday.
His resignation came amid controversy over an anti-drug operation during which he used a firearm while chasing several suspected drug users in the capital’s Gendaria.
He has arrived at the Jatiya Press Club around 1:30pm, accompanied by several hundred party leaders and activists. The press conference began at 2pm.
At the conference, he declared a war against drugs from now on.
Speaking about displaying a firearm during the operation in Gendaria, he said, “I did not go there to steal or to demand extortion money.”
Ishraque said he had arranged the conference to present the facts surrounding the controversy over his participation in drive while carrying a firearm. He was expected to make the announcement of his resignation at the event.
He alleged that media reports about the drive contained a mixture of truth and exaggeration. He claimed that some media outlets were shaping a narrative that distorted the actual events.
He further alleged that a section of people had engaged in misinformation to discredit BNP.
Ishraque said he had carried a firearm while joining the operation for his personal security. He warned that the campaign against drugs would continue.
Around 8:30am, in a post on his verified Facebook page, he said, “Today at 2pm, I will make the announcement of my resignation from the post of State Minister for Liberation War Affairs at the Jatiya Press Club and will face journalists, Insha’Allah.”
He also said, “I have seen some civil society figures expressing jubilation on Facebook. I hope that if a movement or struggle is ever needed in the future, they will return to the country from abroad, inspired by nationalist ideals, and join that movement.”
He added that after stepping down, he would work against drugs with “a hundred times greater enthusiasm” as a BNP activist rather than as a member of parliament or state minister. He also warned that cleanliness drives would be intensified further.
Ishraque said his resignation would allow him to visit different districts across the country to strengthen the organisational capacity of the “Projonmo Dal”.
“Not a minister, but drug eradication. Drug eradication, drug eradication,” he said.
Ishraque claims self-defence
On Sunday afternoon, Ishraque defended his actions in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
According to the statement, 30 to 35 people approached his motorcade in an aggressive manner, shouting and creating a commotion after he arrived at the scene.
Fearing an attack and concerned about the safety of lives and property, Ishraque and his official security guards briefly raised their licensed firearms in self-defence after getting out of their vehicles, it says, claiming the video footage was being circulated in an edited form that concealed the circumstances.
The controversy erupted after Ishraque posted footage of Saturday’s anti-drug operation near Gendaria railway station in the Dayaganj area of Old Dhaka. He later removed the video and issued the statement.
The video showed Ishraque was getting out of a vehicle holding a firearm and chasing several people near the railway tracks.
Some of those being pursued could be heard pleading, “Sir, I haven’t done anything. I’m a poor man, sir.”
Ishraque was heard replying, “The police will come, then we will talk.”
Two privately appointed bodyguards, Tofazzal Hossain and Lavlu, and one government security guard accompanied him during the operation. The footage also showed one person kicking another.
Ishraque subsequently shared the video on Facebook with the caption, “Ishraque in action.”
Police investigation underway
DMP Detective Branch chief Shafiqul Islam said the deputy commissioner of the Wari division had been assigned to investigate the incident.
Legal action would follow if investigators found any violation of the law, he said.
Police Headquarters Assistant Inspector General (Media and Public Relations) Kamarum Munira told TIMES that regular anti-drug operations were continuing, but she was unaware of Ishraque’s Saturday operation.
She said further steps would be announced after the matter had been reviewed.
Earlier controversies
Ishraque, a BNP leader and son of former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, has come to limelight several times and faced criticism for his controversial conducts.
He drew criticism for inappropriately behaviour towards party activists while visiting the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman to lay flowers.
Despite repeated controversies involving his conduct, no organisational action has been taken against him.
In May 2025, Ishraque’s supporters staged a sit-in and siege premises of Jamuna, the official residence of then chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, demanding that Ishraque be sworn in as mayor and handed over charge of Dhaka South City Corporation.
In addition, after Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain became local government adviser to the interim government, Ishraque used his supporters to stage protests at Dhaka South, creating a deadlock in its operations.
