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Liberation War Affairs State Minister and Dhaka-6 MP Ishraq Hossain has explained why he raised his licensed firearm during an anti-drug operation in Gandaria, Dhaka, saying he acted in self-defence amid security concerns and fears of an attack.
He claimed that he and his government security personnel briefly raised their weapons because of a perceived threat to their safety. Six people were later detained and various items, including suspected drugs, were seized during a joint operation conducted in the presence of police.
The explanation came in a press release signed by the state minister’s press officer, Mahfuz Kabir Mukta, on Sunday afternoon (October 18).
The release said the incident occurred on October 17 when Ishraq joined a social resistance campaign against drugs near the Gandaria railway line. It described reports published by various media outlets and on social media as partial and misleading.
According to the release, law enforcement agencies and the minister’s intelligence sources had warned him of potential security threats, including the possibility of sudden gunfire from rooftops by drug traders.
Quoting Ishraq, the release said that when his motorcade approached a temporary drug den, around 30–35 people allegedly rushed towards the vehicles in an aggressive manner, creating a disturbance.
“In view of the specific threat of an attack and to ensure the safety of lives and property, I and my government security personnel got out of the vehicles and raised our firearms for a very brief period in self-defence,” he said. He added that the weapon was returned to its proper place once the potential threat had passed.
The release stated that the firearm was legally licensed by the relevant authority and that it was displayed solely for self-defence within the legal framework.
Ishraq said that since taking office, he had received complaints from residents about drug sales and the spread of drug use among students in Ghantighar, Munsitola, Karatitola and surrounding areas of Gandaria.
The release claimed that following the 2024 mass uprising, the area had become a major transit point for drug syndicates. After three civilians were shot in drug-related violence in June, Ishraq visited the area and held several coordination meetings with senior law enforcement officials, it said.
He also reportedly sent demi-official letters to the relevant police station seeking to address manpower shortages and establish a permanent police outpost near drug dens. Those initiatives are still under way, according to the release.
The October 17 operation was part of a coordinated campaign involving residents, police and local political and social leaders, the minister said. Police were informed shortly after his arrival, and joint raids were subsequently conducted at suspected drug dens with their direct assistance.
The release said four to five illegal makeshift drug dens were dismantled. Authorities allegedly seized heroin or heroin-like substances, foreign liquor, drug-use paraphernalia, locally made sharp weapons, cash suspected to be linked to drug sales and stolen mobile phones.
Six people were detained and handed over to Gandaria police along with the seized items. However, the release did not provide details about the results of chemical tests on the suspected drugs, the identities of those detained or subsequent legal action against them.
Objections to media coverage
Criticising reports and photographs showing him holding a firearm during the operation, Ishraq accused some media outlets of publishing selective information and misleading photo cards.
He alleged that such coverage had ignored the operation’s results, the role of police, the seizure of drugs and weapons, and the detention of six suspects. He urged media outlets to verify information and present the full context before publishing reports.
Reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance policy on drugs, Ishraq said dismantling drug dens and making Dhaka-6 drug-free remained among his key commitments to the public.
He vowed that anti-drug operations would continue in the public interest, adding that selective and allegedly motivated reporting would not stop the social movement against drugs.
