Didn’t threaten anyone with gun: Ishraque

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs and Dhaka-6 MP Ishraque Hossain has defended carrying a firearm during an anti-drug operation, saying the weapon was legal and he neither threatened anyone nor fired a shot.

Responding to criticism on social media yesterday (17 October), Ishraque said he and others were building a social resistance against drug dealers after repeated complaints from residents and what he described as ineffective police action.

He said the firearm he was carrying was legally owned and that, as a public representative, he had been receiving repeated complaints about drug trading in the Dayaganj Ghuntighar area near Gandaria railway station, which falls within his constituency.

Ishraque said he had informed police about the matter, but no effective action had been taken, leaving him with no option but to visit the area himself.

Ishraque said he had held at least 30 to 40 meetings with police over the issue, but officers had offered different explanations for their inability to act, including staff shortages and a lack of vehicles.

He added that several police personnel had previously been shot and injured while conducting operations in the area.

Referring to the aftermath of the July Uprising, Ishraque said the police had yet to recover fully, while drug dealers fired at them from a distance. He said this was why he had carried a firearm.

“I didn’t fire any shots, nor did I threaten anyone with it. Yes, we conducted the operation, and we are building a social resistance,” he said.