Ishraque to announce resignation as state minister today

BNP leader Ishraq Hossain has said he will make a final announcement today, Monday, on whether he is stepping down as State Minister for Liberation War Affairs. He is scheduled to speak to reporters at the National Press Club at 2 pm.

Ishraq announced the programme in a post on his verified Facebook page on Monday morning (October 19). As of the morning, however, there was no information that the formal process of his resignation had been completed.

In the post, Ishraq said he would continue his anti-drug work even after leaving the post of state minister. He said he would pursue it more actively not as a lawmaker or government representative but as a BNP activist. He also mentioned plans to tour districts across the country to step up cleanliness drives and strengthen the organisational base of the party's Projonmo Dal.

Ishraq also addressed the reaction on social media to the resignation decision. He called on those who believe in nationalist ideals to return home and take part if a movement or struggle becomes necessary. His post placed particular emphasis on eradicating drugs.

Discussion about his resignation began on Sunday night. However, a press release sent by his press officer, Mahfuz Kabir Mukta, had described the reports of his resignation as false and misleading.

Controversy surrounding Ishraq began after he took part in an anti-drug operation carrying a weapon in the capital's Gendaria area. A video of the operation, held near the railway line last Saturday, went viral on social media and drew criticism from various quarters. Law enforcement agencies also said they were monitoring the incident.

The day after the incident, on Sunday, several media outlets reported that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had directed Ishraq to resign from the cabinet. Those reports, citing government sources, were published ahead of Ishraq's announcement on Monday that he would make his final decision on resignation public.

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