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Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is monitoring the actions of Liberation War Affairs State Minister Ishraq Hossain, who took part in an anti-drug raid in the capital’s Gandaria area while carrying a firearm.
DMP Additional Commissioner (Detective Branch) Md Shafiqul Islam said legal action would be taken if any violation of the law was found.
He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists at a press conference at the DMP Media Centre on Sunday afternoon.
“It is not yet time to assess the incident. We have seen what you have seen. The local deputy commissioner has been asked to examine the entire incident and submit a report. If there has been any breach of the law, DMP will take legal action,” Shafiqul said.
Asked whether a minister could perform police duties, he declined to comment.
On Saturday afternoon, Ishraq posted several videos of the anti-drug operation in Gandaria on his Facebook page. In one video, he was seen taking part in the raid with a firearm in his hand. Parts of the weapon were blurred, making it difficult to identify its type. Another video showed several people handcuffed and taken away by police.
The caption read: “Ishraq’s action: Drug den demolished, dealers handed over to police.”
The video showed the state minister stepping out of a vehicle with a pistol in one hand and a handheld microphone in the other, chasing a group of people. He was seen pulling back the pistol’s slide, aiming it towards them and shouting, “Hey, stop, stop.”
Gandaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman Monir said Ishraq had detained six people and called the police station. Police later arrived and took them into custody.
The OC said a white powder-like substance had been found on the detainees. Tests would be needed to determine whether it was heroin.
In another Facebook post at 7:22pm on Saturday, Ishraq announced that anti-drug operations would continue until Dhaka-6 constituency was free of drugs.
He said drug traders would not be spared regardless of their political affiliation, adding that members of his own party involved in drug trafficking would face even harsher punishment.
The post also said Ishraq had previously conducted anti-drug operations in different parts of Dhaka-6 and sought local residents’ cooperation to make the constituency drug-free.
At the same press conference, the DB chief said senior police officers were working in the field to ensure security during Durga Puja. He said an adequate number of police personnel had been deployed and expressed hope that the festival would be celebrated peacefully and in a festive atmosphere.
