Ishraq’s Armed Operation Under Fire for Bypassing Legal Procedures

Staff Reporter

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs and Dhaka-6 MP Ishraq Hossain has faced severe criticism for participating in a public anti-drug drive with a pistol in his hand in the capital’s Gendaria. Ever since a video of the drive went viral on social media, there has been a strong discussion and criticism across the country about such a role of a public representative and the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies.

State Minister Ishraq Hossain conducted this special anti-drug operation in a slum adjacent to the railway line in Gandaria on Saturday, October 17.

During this time, six people suspected of being involved in drug trafficking were arrested and handed over to the police. Later, he also published a video clip of the operation on his official Facebook page.

However, the controversy began when the state minister was seen participating in the operation with a pistol in his own hand in the video that was released. Although the weapon was blurred in that part of the video, there is still confusion about the type of weapon, whether it was legal in his name or not, or whether any force was used during the operation.

In this regard, former intelligence officer Aminul Haque Palash said that the policy on issuance, renewal and use of firearms licenses clearly states that firearms purchased under a license issued for personal safety cannot be used for any purpose other than self-defense.

The way Ishraq Hossain showed his personal weapon and threatened people is a punishable offense. As a result, his license should be revoked. But since there is no rule of law in the country, he expressed his anger, saying that he does not see the possibility of any such punishment against him.

Meanwhile, Ishraq Hossain’s media cell said that such campaigns will continue regularly until Dhaka-6 constituency is completely drug-free.

Legalizing such a firearm-wielding operation, the state minister said that no matter how influential the drug traffickers are or how political the party, no one will be spared. Even if someone from his own party is involved in this crime, strict action will be taken against them.

The State Minister further claimed that a list of drug dealers has been prepared after collecting specific intelligence information for a long period of six months. He expressed his determination to conduct such a campaign not only in his own area but also nationwide as the youth community is being destroyed by the terrible addiction of drugs.

Meanwhile, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gendaria Police Station Moniruzzaman Monir told the media that after the arrest of the six people, the state minister contacted the police station and the police quickly went to the spot and brought them to the police station. It will be possible to confirm whether the white powdery substance recovered from the detainees is heroin or not only after testing.

On the other hand, civil society representatives have expressed anger at the public’s representatives openly participating in such operations with weapons.

Habib Ullah, General Secretary of the Dhaka University Hall Parliament, raised the question of whether a state minister can take the law into his own hands by openly taking up arms like this.

Prominent academician and human rights activist Dr. Nabila Idris commented that there are serious questions about how compatible the minister’s constitutional position is with his own armed involvement in the field, without emphasizing the need to increase the capacity of law enforcement agencies. DUCSU leader Miftahul Maruf also criticized in the same vein.

It is worth noting that Ishraq Hossain has previously carried out various anti-drug activities in different places in Dhaka-6 constituency. However, this incident of openly carrying weapons in this campaign has given rise to a new political and legal debate. Although this anti-drug initiative has been applauded, there is now a heated analysis in various quarters about the boundaries of the work of public representatives and the police.