Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraak Hossain to resign from the cabinet following severe backlash over his brandishing of a firearm during a self-led anti-narcotics operation in Dhaka. The directive was issued on Sunday afternoon, 18 October 2026, when the Prime Minister summoned Ishraak immediately following a cabinet meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat, according to high-level government and party sources.
While official government spokespersons initially refrained from issuing formal statements, state broadcaster Bangladesh Television (BTV) ran a news ticker at 10:34 pm stating, ‘Prime Minister directs Ishraak to resign from cabinet.’
The controversy stems from an incident on Saturday afternoon in the Dayaganj Guntiaghar area, adjacent to Gendaria Railway Station in the Dhaka-6 constituency. Ishraak, who serves as the local Member of Parliament alongside his ministerial portfolio, led a raid against alleged drug dens. Footage uploaded to his official Facebook page showed him exiting his vehicle with a drawn handgun, shouting commands as his personal security personnel gave chase to suspects. Accompanying individuals were heard threatening to shoot, while bodyguards were seen physically assaulting detainees.
The public display of firearms drew immediate public condemnation and caused profound embarrassment within both the government and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Under Section 25 of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ 2025 Firearms Licensing, Renewal, and Usage Guidelines, license holders are strictly prohibited from displaying weapons in a manner that induces public panic or distress, even if held for self-defence. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) launched an official inquiry, with Detective Branch Chief Shafiqul Islam confirming that the Deputy Commissioner of the Wari Division is investigating potential legal violations.
The incident unfolded on the same day Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conducted unannounced inspections across 13 locations in the capital, assessing public healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and government housing complexes. Political insiders noted that Ishraak’s armed intervention overshadowed the administration’s governance drive, compelling executive action to enforce ministerial accountability.
In a statement posted to his verified Facebook page on Sunday, Ishraak defended his actions, claiming he drew his licensed firearm briefly for self-defence after a aggressive crowd of 30 to 35 individuals approached his convoy. He asserted that the drive dismantled several drug sanctuaries and resulted in six arrests. However, police authorities contradicted assertions of prior coordination, with Wari Division Additional Deputy Commissioner Masud Rana confirming that law enforcement officers were notified only after the raid was underway.
Ishraak later dismissed reports of his requested resignation as political rumours via social media and an audio statement distributed to journalists, maintaining that any official decision regarding his cabinet post would be communicated through a formal press conference.
This developments follows the recent resignation of BNP reserved seat MP Ferdousi Ahmed Mishti, who stepped down on 1 October on instructions from the Prime Minister after associates were linked to vandalism at a health centre in Mirpur. Ishraak’s resignation directive signals a firm stance by the Prime Minister regarding code of conduct and institutional discipline among government officials.
