Ishraque Hossain announces resignation as state minister

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain announced his resignation from the cabinet at the National Press Club in Dhaka shortly after 2pm on Monday.

He said he had made the decision for personal reasons, despite his party not wanting him to step down.

Addressing journalists, Ishraque said he would continue his campaign against drugs with greater determination despite leaving the cabinet.

“My resignation is necessary for special reasons, but the war against drugs will continue,” he said.

He said the current situation had arisen from his anti-drug operations and vowed to take a more aggressive approach from now on.

He also said he had decided to resign on his own and that the party had not asked him to do so. He pledged to intensify his efforts against drugs outside the cabinet.

Earlier on Monday, Ishraque announced on social media that he would make a final declaration of his resignation at the National Press Club at 2pm and face journalists.

In the post, he criticised people who had expressed satisfaction over his decision and said he hoped they would return from abroad to join future movements if necessary.

He also added that he would work with greater enthusiasm against drugs as a BNP activist rather than as a lawmaker or state minister.

Ishraque added that he would intensify cleanliness campaigns and visit different districts to strengthen the organisational activities of the Jatiyatabadi Projonmo Dal.

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His resignation announcement came after controversy over an anti-drug operation on Saturday, during which he was seen carrying a firearm.

Reports circulated on Sunday night that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had instructed Ishraque to resign following a cabinet meeting. Ishraque, however, dismissed the reports as rumours and baseless in an audio message sent to the media.

In a social media post published at 12:35am, he said any instruction from the prime minister to a cabinet member concerning resignation or another matter would take effect according to established practice. He added that he would inform the public promptly through a press conference if any such decision concerning him or the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs took effect.