Daylong Rumours Over Resignation Order; State Minister Ishraq Says 'Completely a Rumour'

All day Sunday, rumours spread that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had ordered State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraq Hossain — who became involved in controversy after displaying weapons during an anti-drug drive — to resign from the cabinet. However, both the state minister himself and his office have dismissed the news as a 'rumour' and 'completely untrue.'

In news spread citing multiple high-level government-linked sources, it was said that on Sunday (October 18) afternoon, after the cabinet meeting at the Secretariat ended, the Prime Minister called Ishraq Hossain and gave him the order to resign right there. As soon as this news spread in the media and on social media, intense discussion began in political circles.

However, as of 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, when this report was being written, no official statement on the matter had been received from any responsible quarter of the government. As a result, the news of the order could neither be confirmed, nor has it been formally rejected by the government either.

Amid the rumours, Ishraq Hossain himself requested that people 'not pay heed' to the resignation news. On Sunday, he told a media outlet, 'I earnestly request everyone that you must treat this matter as a rumour; there is no truth in it yet.'

He also said that if any such decision is taken by the party, it will not come through hearsay. In his words, 'Of course, it will be done officially there, through a press conference where you will all be present — through that kind of arrangement.'

Ishraq Hossain alleged that those who gave this information are promoting hearsay as news. Requesting everyone to be careful in this regard, he said, 'Whoever gave this information is propagating hearsay to you as news. I earnestly request everyone to be careful about this matter.'

At this time, the state minister also requested everyone not to phone all at once. He said, 'Please, do not all call together; it is not really possible for me to receive everyone's calls on one phone.' From this remark of his, it can be understood that after the news spread, a large number of calls were coming to him.

Not just a verbal statement — a formal protest letter has also been sent from the state minister's office. In the protest letter, sent by Ishraq Hossain's press officer Mahfuz Kabir Mukta, it was said that the news being broadcast in various media and on social media on Sunday about the state minister's 'resignation' or 'being ordered to resign' is 'completely untrue, baseless, fabricated and motivated.'

The protest letter further said, 'The real truth is that the Honourable State Minister is discharging his government and political duties with great devotion and reputation. No directive to resign has been given to him from the top level of the government, and there is no question of his resignation.' According to the office, a quarter is spreading such fictitious and false information with the aim of achieving political objectives and creating confusion among the public.

The protest letter also raised the previous day's weapons-display incident. It said, 'Regarding the incident of lawfully displaying weapons purely in self-defence in the situation that arose yesterday at an anti-drug social resistance programme in his own parliamentary constituency, the Honourable State Minister has already clarified his position.'

The incident originated on Saturday (October 17). That day, Ishraq Hossain took to an anti-drug drive in Gendaria in the capital, holding a firearm aloft. The people with him also had weapons in their hands. After a video of that drive spread on social media, widespread discussion and criticism began, and following on from that, Sunday's rumour took on a new dimension.

No official position on the matter has been announced from the party side either. BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan said, 'Nothing has been informed in writing from the party on this matter. If something like that happens, it will be announced officially.'

All in all, at the end of the day the situation stands like this — on one side, rumours of a resignation order citing sources; on the other, the strong denials of the state minister and his office. Attention is now on the official statement of the government and the party; according to Ishraq Hossain himself, if there is any decision, it will be announced through a press conference.