Photo: Collected
Answering journalists’ questions on Tuesday afternoon after a conference of former associates and members of Islami Chhatra Shibir at the GC Convention Centre in Chattogram city, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami ameer and opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman claimed that Ishraq Hossain had given up the post of state minister because the Prime Minister wanted him to.
Remarking that drugs are destroying the body of society, the Jamaat ameer said that in this situation Ishraq had done just what needed to be done. Members of the police and other forces were also present at that raid. He remarked, however, that it would have been better if Ishraq had not had a weapon in his hand.
Noting that there is no scope to call Ishraq’s action outright negative, Shafiqur Rahman said that if a people’s representative or a state minister carries a weapon in broad daylight, or points a weapon at someone, then even if his intention is good, others may take it as a precedent for using one with bad intent.
The Jamaat ameer remarked that the method of an action is not acceptable in every case simply because its intention is good. In his view, such matters need to be considered from the standpoint of civic conduct.
Setting out the party’s position on eradicating drugs, the opposition leader said that alongside enacting laws, it is essential to take realistic and effective steps to stop the spread of drugs.
In his speech as chief guest, Shafiqur Rahman said associates and members of Chhatra Shibir and Jamaat-e-Islami must work as activists of the organisation until death. He also remarked that although change had begun through the July mass uprising of 2024, it has still not received due recognition.
He also noted that in the past Jamaat leaders and activists had been subjected to oppression, torture and false cases.
Shafiqur Rahman said that although there was dissatisfaction over the result of the last election, it had been accepted in the greater interest. He remarked, however, that this does not mean the same situation will be accepted in the future as well.
Rejecting the allegation of selling tickets to paradise, the Jamaat ameer said that they show people the path to paradise.
Between two thousand and two thousand five hundred leaders and activists took part in the conference. Those present included Jamaat assistant secretary general and Chattogram region director Muhammad Shahjahan, central executive council member and MP Shahjahan Chowdhury, Chattogram city Jamaat ameer Muhammad Nazrul Islam and secretary Principal Muhammad Nurul Amin.
Background
The resignation the Jamaat ameer spoke of took place last Monday. According to The Business Standard’s report of 19 October 2026, Ishraq Hossain announced at a press conference at the National Press Club at 2pm that day that he was stepping down from the post of state minister for liberation war affairs.
According to the same report, he had said he was seeking release voluntarily in order to focus on eradicating drugs in Dhaka-6 and surrounding areas and on other national problems; after the controversy over the raid, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had asked him the previous day to leave the cabinet.
The question of the weapon arose from a raid on 17 October. The Business Standard reported that during an anti-drug raid in Gendaria in Dhaka that day, Ishraq drew a pistol; video showed him chasing a group of people with the mouth of a hand microphone in one hand and a pistol in the other. He claimed he had kept the weapon out only as long as was needed for security, and while he expressed regret if anyone had been hurt, he said he had made no mistake.
Sources
Background sources: The Business Standard, 19 October 2026, Ajker Patrika
