Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reportedly instructed State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraq Hossain to resign from the cabinet following controversy over his participation in an anti-drug operation while carrying a firearm.

According to multiple high-level government sources, the prime minister summoned Ishraq after a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat on Sunday afternoon (October 18) and directed him to step down.

However, no official statement from a responsible government representative was available as of Sunday night.

The controversy erupted after Ishraq took part in an anti-drug operation on Saturday afternoon (October 17) near the Dayaganj Gumtighar railway crossing, adjacent to Gandaria Railway Station in the capital.

A video posted on his Facebook page shows the state minister getting out of a vehicle and raising a firearm while directing others to apprehend several people. His bodyguards can also be seen moving to detain individuals.

In the footage, a person is heard threatening to shoot someone. One of the bodyguards is also seen kicking a young man.

The video triggered widespread debate over whether ministers or state ministers can personally conduct raids, attempt to detain people with firearms, or perform duties ordinarily carried out by law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has assigned the investigation to the deputy commissioner of its Wari division.

DMP Additional Commissioner (Detective Branch) Shafiqul Islam confirmed the development on Sunday, saying that legal action would be taken if the investigation found any violation of the law.

The reported resignation directive has added a new dimension to the controversy, although the government has yet to publicly confirm the decision.