Reports circulating across various mass media and social media platforms claiming that Ishraque Hossain, state minister for Liberation War Affairs, has resigned or was instructed to step down are completely false, baseless, fabricated, and politically motivated, according to an official statement.
Issued on Sunday to clarify the government’s position, Mahfuz Kabir Mukta, press officer to the state minister, said Ishraque is carrying out his official and political responsibilities with utmost dedication and reputation.
Mukta added that no directive regarding resignation has been issued from the high level of the government, and the question of his resignation does not arise at all.
According to the press officer, a quarter is spreading fictitious and false information with the intention of achieving political goals and creating public confusion.
Referring to an incident in the state minister’s parliamentary constituency last Saturday, where a weapon was lawfully displayed solely in self-defence during an anti-drug social resistance programme, the press officer noted that the state minister has already clarified his position regarding the matter.
The press officer highlighted that spreading any news regarding his resignation centred around this incident is entirely illegal and contrary to journalistic ethics.
He requested all media outlets and citizens not to be misled by such propaganda, while urging news organisations that published the misleading reports to withdraw them immediately and publish the correct facts, warning that legal action will be taken against those spreading propaganda.
Meanwhile, a state minister, speaking to TIMES on condition of anonymity, said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had summoned Ishraque after Sunday’s cabinet meeting had concluded.
He said, however, that he had no information or knowledge as to whether Ishraque had been asked to resign.
He added that Tarique had summoned Ishraque after all ministers and state ministers had left following the meeting, and that an influential official from the prime minister’s press wing had been present at the time.
