Ishraque Hossain resigns

Ishraque Hossain has resigned as state minister for liberation war affairs.

He announced his decision while speaking to journalists at the National Press Club in the capital at 2pm on Monday, saying he had chosen to step down to avoid putting his party in an embarrassing position.

Earlier on Monday morning (October 19), Hossain disclosed his decision in a post on his verified Facebook page. He said he would make a formal announcement about his resignation and speak to journalists.

Despite stepping down, Ishraque pledged to continue his anti-drug activities. He said he wanted to work more actively to eliminate drugs as a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activist rather than in his capacity as a member of parliament or state minister.

He also outlined plans to intensify cleanliness campaigns and visit different districts to strengthen the organisational network of the Projonmo Dal nationwide.

The resignation comes amid controversy over a video that recently circulated on social media showing Ishraque carrying a firearm during an anti-drug operation in the Gandaria area, which falls under the Dhaka-6 parliamentary constituency. The footage sparked public discussion and criticism, bringing his resignation into focus.