Ishraque says raised firearm in ‘self-defence’

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs and Dhaka-6 MP Ishraque Hossain has said he briefly raised his licensed firearm in “self-defence” during an anti-drug drive in the capital’s Gendaria area on Saturday (17 October) after receiving warnings of possible “security threats”.

In a statement issued on Sunday (18 October), Ishraque said he, along with his security personnel, got out of their vehicles and raised the weapon briefly when a group of 30 to 35 people allegedly approached their convoy aggressively near a suspected drug den.

He claimed that law enforcement agencies and his own intelligence sources had warned him of possible security risks, including the possibility of drug traders firing at them from rooftops.

“The weapon was raised for a very short time in self-defence to protect lives and property amid fears of an imminent attack,” the state minister said, adding that it was put away as soon as the potential threat had passed.

He said the firearm was licensed by the competent authority and that it was displayed for self-defence within the legal framework.

In a video, Ishraque was seen carrying a firearm while chasing several people during an anti-drug operation in Gendaria on Saturday.

According to the statement, the drive was part of a coordinated social resistance initiative involving local residents, law enforcement agencies and political and social leaders to curb drug trading in Gendaria and surrounding areas.

Ishraque said he had received complaints from residents about drug trading and the spread of drugs among students in areas, including Ghantighar, Munshitek and Koratitola, since taking office as the elected representative of Dhaka-6.

He said the area had become a major transit point for drug syndicates after the 2024 mass uprising.

Following a drug-related violent incident in June in which three people were reportedly shot, the state minister said he visited the area and held several coordination meetings with senior law enforcement officials.

He said he had also sent a demi-official letter to the relevant police station seeking to address manpower shortages and establish a permanent police outpost near the suspected drug dens. “The proposal has yet to be implemented.”

About the operation, Ishraque said Gendaria police were informed shortly after the team reached the area and that joint drives were subsequently conducted with police assistance.

He claimed that four to five illegal makeshift drug dens were dismantled during the operation. Heroin, foreign liquor, drug-use paraphernalia, locally made sharp weapons, cash allegedly linked to drug sales and mobile phones suspected to have been snatched were seized, he said.

Six alleged drug traders were detained and handed over to police along with the seized items, according to the statement.

The state minister also criticised reports by several media outlets, accusing them of presenting the firearm incident without its broader context.

He alleged that the reports focused on images of him holding a weapon while overlooking the operation and the reported seizures and arrests.

Ishraque urged media outlets to verify information and publish reports with the full context.

Reiterating the government’s “zero-tolerance” policy on drugs, he said eliminating drug dens and making Dhaka-6 free of drugs are among his major commitments to the public.

The state minister said anti-drug operations will continue in the public interest.

Source: UNB