Islamic speaker Dr Syed Muhammad Enayetullah Abbasi has sharply criticised Bangladeshi journalists over their coverage of Ishraq Hossain’s anti-drug operation, using abusive and violent language to express his displeasure. He accused the media of focusing on Ishraq brandishing a pistol rather than highlighting the stated objective of tackling drug trafficking.
Abbasi made the remarks on Monday night, 19 October, while delivering the main address at the annual religious sermon and prayer gathering at Nishchintapur Hafizia Madrasa in Matlab Uttar upazila of Chandpur.
Defending Ishraq’s anti-drug initiative, Abbasi said declaring a fight against drugs was a positive step, although he acknowledged that the method of holding up a pistol was inappropriate. He argued that Ishraq’s intentions were good but claimed the government had been unwilling to take responsibility for the operation.
In an attack on the media, Abbasi said Bangladeshi journalists were among the worst and suggested that they should be beaten like dogs. He alleged that news coverage had failed to give sufficient attention to the anti-drug campaign’s stated objectives, instead concentrating on footage of Ishraq running with a pistol.
Referring to Ishraq’s role, Abbasi claimed that he had attempted to dismantle a drug trafficking network with the help of his team while serving as a state minister. The speaker argued that more favourable reporting of the operation might have prompted the government to take a different decision.
Abbasi also labelled a section of the media ‘yellow journalists’ and called for action against them. He alleged that some journalists received money from foreign intelligence agencies and did not want Bangladesh to prosper. However, he did not present specific evidence to substantiate these claims during his speech.
The comments centred on the tension between the stated objective of an anti-drug operation and the methods used to carry it out. While Abbasi supported efforts to combat drug trafficking, he conceded that brandishing a firearm was an inappropriate approach. His remarks did not, however, provide independent evidence to establish the allegations he made against journalists.
He also stressed that tackling drug-related problems required more than law enforcement operations. According to Abbasi, effective social initiatives should accompany the work of law enforcement agencies to address the spread of drugs in the country.
Call to protect innocent Awami League supporters
In another part of his address, Abbasi urged the authorities to ensure that innocent Awami League leaders, activists and supporters were not harmed during efforts to bring alleged offenders to justice.
He said those responsible for crimes should be punished, including murderers who deserved the death penalty, but insisted that innocent people should not suffer because of their political affiliations.
‘Let the guilty be punished and murderers face the death penalty, but ensure that innocent Awami League supporters are not harmed,’ he said.
Discussing the political composition of the gathering, Abbasi said those present could include supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), as well as the Awami League. He rejected claims that the Awami League no longer had any supporters in the country, describing such assertions as untrue.
Abbasi reiterated that punishment should be based on individual responsibility rather than political identity. He suggested that people who had committed no crime should be forgiven, arguing that such an approach would serve the country’s interests.
He concluded this part of his speech by urging people to put aside political differences and work towards unity.
His address combined support for Ishraq’s stated anti-drug objectives with criticism of the government’s response, attacks on journalists and an appeal for fair treatment of innocent political supporters. The allegations of foreign funding and the inflammatory language directed at journalists were not accompanied by specific supporting evidence in the reported remarks.
