Ishrak Issues Strong Message to Nahid Islam After Resignation, Warns of New Measures Against Drug Trade

PNN News Desk | Dhaka

Ishrak Hossain has criticized Nahid Islam, chief whip of the opposition and convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), following Ishrak's resignation as state minister for liberation war affairs amid controversy over his participation in an anti-drug operation while armed.

Expressing anger on social media, Ishrak alleged that greater attention was being paid to finding possible criminal offences against him rather than addressing the drug problem. He also hinted at taking measures outside conventional approaches to eliminate drugs and issued a warning to major drug traffickers.

In several posts published on his verified Facebook page on Monday (October 19) night, Ishrak addressed the controversy and criticized Nahid Islam.

In a post directed at Nahid, Ishrak wrote that he had once considered him a proponent of a new political settlement. However, Ishrak alleged that when a journalist asked Nahid about the issue, he had focused on finding criminal offences against Ishrak rather than discussing the severity of the drug problem and how it could be addressed.

Ishrak further wrote that the drug problem could have been discussed first, followed by consideration of any legal action against him. Addressing the younger generation, he expressed disappointment and questioned whether the new political settlement they had hoped for could be established by the individuals currently involved in politics.

In another post, Ishrak referred to a conversation with an unnamed individual. He claimed that the person had called him and requested that Ishrak accompany him on a future anti-drug operation. According to Ishrak, the individual had also expressed concern that drugs were destroying society.

Ishrak questioned how effective anti-drug initiatives could be if a lawmaker faced the risk of criminal proceedings for attempting to eliminate drugs through lawful means in coordination with the police.

In another statement directed at Nahid Islam, Ishrak said that if he had committed any offence, a case should be filed against him. He added that he was even prepared to surrender to a court and go to prison himself. However, he did not provide details about the specific legal grounds for any potential case or the alleged offences involved.

Outlining his position on tackling the drug problem, Ishrak hinted at taking measures beyond conventional approaches. He said that a different kind of remedy was necessary to combat drugs and warned major drug traffickers and dealers that action would be taken against them soon.

However, Ishrak did not elaborate on what kind of measures he intended to take.

Earlier, opposition chief whip Nahid Islam had called on the government to explain the circumstances behind Ishrak Hossain's resignation as state minister for liberation war affairs. Nahid said the government should clarify why Ishrak had stepped down from the position.

Ishrak's resignation, his role in the anti-drug operation and the exchange of criticism between political leaders have sparked discussion in the political arena. However, a clearer picture of the matter would require detailed statements from the relevant parties regarding the sequence of events surrounding the operation, possible legal complications and the official reasons for the resignation.