Dhaka, Oct. 19 -- Amid controversy over going on an "anti-drug drive" with a firearm in hand, Ishraque Hossain has announced his resignation as state minister for Liberation War affairs to avoid embarrassing the BNP after speaking with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Ishraque, the eldest son of Sadeque Hossain Khoka, the last mayor of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation, made the announcement at a press conference at the National Press Club on Monday afternoon while accompanied by several hundred leaders and activists.

He said that he had gone to coordinate the anti-drug campaign as a public representative, and carried a licensed firearm in his hand for his own safety. He claimed the images were then picked up by the mainstream media us...