Ishraq Hossain has announced his resignation as State Minister for Liberation War Affairs, saying he does not want his actions to cause embarrassment to his party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), or the Prime Minister.

He made the announcement at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Monday (October 19).

“I do not want my actions to embarrass my party, the BNP, or the Prime Minister. That is why I have announced my resignation,” Ishraq said.

He said he had voluntarily sought release from his responsibilities as state minister by submitting his request to the Prime Minister. He also expressed his desire to work on eliminating drugs and addressing other public concerns in Dhaka-6 and surrounding areas.

According to Ishraq, the Prime Minister agreed to his proposal and gave him the opportunity to focus on working in his constituency and other areas if necessary.

Speaking before announcing his resignation, Ishraq said he had met with the Prime Minister to discuss the recent situation. He claimed that his visit to the area was not intended to occupy land or collect extortion money but was part of an effort to eliminate drugs.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the media coverage of the incident, Ishraq said the Prime Minister’s recent visit to eight locations in Mirpur had received widespread praise across the country. However, he claimed that the way the media presented his own incident overshadowed the Prime Minister’s initiative.

Despite announcing his resignation, Ishraq maintained that he had done nothing wrong during the anti-drug operation.

“If I have made any mistake or caused anyone distress through this operation, I would like to apologise for that. However, I firmly believe that I did nothing wrong that day,” he said.

Ishraq also claimed that he had carried a firearm only for as long as necessary for his personal safety during the operation. According to him, the weapon was no longer visible in his possession afterward.