Dhaka-6 MP and State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain has defended displaying a licensed firearm during an anti-drug campaign in Gandaria on Saturday, saying he acted in self-defence amid fears of an attack.
In a statement on Sunday, Ishraque said the firearm was legally licensed and that he had displayed it solely for self-defence within the legal framework.
He accused several media outlets of publishing misleading reports based on incomplete information and images.
Ishraque alleged that their coverage had overlooked the operation’s outcome, the role of police, the seizure of drugs and weapons, and the arrest of six suspects, focusing instead on images of him holding a firearm. He urged media outlets to verify information and report incidents in their full context.
“Selective and motivated coverage of an incident will not stop the community movement against drugs,” he said, adding that anti-drug operations would continue in the public interest.
Ishraque said that since taking office as the elected representative for Dhaka-6, he had received repeated complaints from residents about drug trading in Ghantighar, Munsitek, Koratitola and neighbouring areas, as well as the spread of drugs among students. 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 civilians were shot, he visited the area and held several coordination meetings with senior law enforcement officials, according to the statement. He also sent a demi-official letter to the relevant police station seeking to address staff shortages and establish a permanent police outpost near drug dens. The proposals remain under consideration, he said.
According to Ishraque, the October 17 campaign was part of a coordinated community effort involving residents and law enforcement agencies, following a joint decision by police officials and local political and social leaders.
He said law enforcement agencies and his own intelligence sources had warned him of security risks, including the possibility of drug traders firing at him from rooftops.
“While the campaign was under way, as we approached a temporary drug den, 30 to 35 lawbreakers suddenly began shouting and advancing aggressively towards our motorcade,” he said.
“Given the specific threat of an attack and the need to protect lives and property, I and my official security personnel got out of the vehicles and briefly raised our firearms in self-defence. The weapons were returned to their proper place as soon as the potential threat had passed,” he added.
Ishraque said Gandaria police were informed shortly after the team arrived, and joint raids were subsequently conducted at suspected drug dens in the presence of police. Four to five illegal makeshift dens were dismantled during the operation.
Authorities seized heroin or heroin-based substances, foreign liquor, drug-use paraphernalia, several locally made sharp weapons, cash suspected to be linked to drug sales and mobile phones allegedly stolen, the statement said.
Six people suspected of involvement in drug trafficking were arrested at the scene and handed over to Gandaria police along with the seized evidence.