State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain defended his actions, saying he had briefly displayed the weapon in self-defence after a group of people allegedly advanced towards his convoy.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Ishraque, who is also a member of parliament representing Dhaka-6, claimed that 30 to 35 people had approached his convoy aggressively as he arrived near a makeshift drug den on Saturday, New Age reported.

The statement was issued by his press officer, Mahfuz Kabir Mukta, after photographs and videos showing the minister holding a pistol circulated online.

According to the minister, law enforcement agencies and his intelligence sources had warned him of potential security threats, including the possibility of drug traffickers opening fire from rooftops.

"Fearing a targeted attack and concerned for the safety of lives and property, my government-assigned security personnel and I stepped out of our vehicle and, for a very brief moment, brandished our weapons in self-defence," he said.

"As soon as the potential threat had passed, we put the weapons away. The firearm in question is licensed by the appropriate authorities, and it was displayed strictly within the legal framework and solely for self-defence," Ishraque added.

Drug dens dismantled, six suspects arrested

During the operation, several makeshift drug dens were dismantled, according to media reports.

Authorities reportedly seized heroin or heroin-based substances, foreign liquor, drug paraphernalia, locally made sharp weapons, cash allegedly generated from drug sales and stolen mobile phones.

Six suspected drug traffickers were apprehended and handed over to the police along with the seized items, the minister's statement said.

Dhaka Police order probe into incident

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has ordered an investigation into the incident amid the circulation of footage showing the minister brandishing the firearm.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch chief Shafiqul Islam told The Daily Star that the deputy commissioner of the DMP's Wari Division had been assigned to investigate the matter.

The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the minister's actions during the anti-drug operation.