Wielding a gun, Ishraque, who is also the Dhaka-6 MP, led the surprise raid on a suspected drug den in his constituency in the capital yesterday, drawing criticism and creating debate over whether it was right or legal for him to do it.
TBS Report
18 October, 2026, 01:00 pm
Last modified: 18 October, 2026, 01:09 pm
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is investigating whether any laws were violated when State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain publicly displayed a firearm during an anti-drug drive yesterday (17 October).
Action will be taken against those concerned in line with the laws if evidence of any irregularities or legal violation is found, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam, also the chief of DMP Detective Branch, while responding to questions from journalists at the DMP Media Centre in the capital today (18 October).
Wielding a gun, Ishraque, who is also the Dhaka-6 MP, led the surprise raid on a suspected drug den in his constituency in the capital yesterday, drawing criticism and creating debate over whether it was right or legal for him to do it.
The raid was carried out in and around a slum beside the railway tracks in the Doyaganj rail gate area near the Gandaria Railway Station, which falls under Ward No 45 and Gandaria Police Station.
A video of the raid, posted on the state minister's Facebook page around 6pm yesterday, showed him waving the gun and leading the operation. In most of the video footage, the gun in Ishraque's hand was blurred out, but in some instances, the blurring was missing - clearly showing a gun in his hand.
The video was later deleted following widespread online criticism, with many questioning whether a state minister could legally carry a gun in public and lead a drug raid.
During today's briefing, DB chief Shafiqul also discussed the arrest of six members of a motorcycle theft gang and the recovery of nine stolen motorcycles. The gang used a special technique to break motorcycle locks within seconds and steal the vehicles.