A megaphone in one hand and a pistol in the other, Bangladesh State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain stepped out of his vehicle to lead an anti-drug operation near the Gendaria Railway Station in Dhaka. Accompanied by bodyguards who rushed toward individuals standing by the tracks, the 39-year-old minister took matters into his own hands on a Saturday afternoon. Video footage shared on his official Facebook page captured the chaotic scene, including a companion threatening someone and a bodyguard kicking a young man, before the clip was eventually deleted.
During the intervention, six individuals were detained and subsequently handed over to local authorities. Police noted that laboratory testing would be required to confirm whether the powder found in their possession was indeed an illicit substance. While the minister assured those detained that police would arrive shortly, conflicting accounts emerged regarding whether law enforcement had been briefed prior to the raid.
Pavel Sikder, an associate who accompanied the minister, claimed that police had been notified beforehand but were delayed in responding to recurring complaints from neighborhood residents. However, Dhaka Metropolitan Police additional deputy commissioner Masud Rana disputed this version of events, stating that the minister had failed to inform them in advance and that officers only learned of the incident after it had concluded.
Hossain, a member of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party representing the Dhaka-6 constituency, defended his decision to carry a firearm by citing past violence and alleged police inaction. He asserted that local law enforcement frequently cited shortages of manpower and vehicles, and claimed that drug dealers in the area had previously fired upon civilians from a distance. The minister emphasized that his weapon was licensed for self-defense, maintaining that he did not fire any shots or intentionally use the firearm to intimidate anyone.
Local police countered claims of inactivity by highlighting a major operation conducted on October 11, which involved 300 personnel alongside specialized units. Under existing firearm regulations, licensed weapons are permitted for personal protection, though displaying them in a manner that generates fear or public alarm is restricted. Hossain's supporters are accustomed to seeing him intervene directly in local issues, with his social media channels frequently documenting his involvement in community cleanliness campaigns and price-control initiatives.