The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has detained a Bangabhaban official in connection with the hacking of the verified X (formerly Twitter) account belonging to Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
The detainee has been identified as Mohammad Sarware Alam, an Assistant Programmer at the President’s Office in Bangabhaban. He was picked up by DB officials late Tuesday night from the government quarters located near the Rajarbagh Police Lines Auditorium.
The Detention and Investigation
Confirming the development, DMP Additional Commissioner (DB) Shafiqul Islam stated that Mohammad Sarware Alam was brought into custody for questioning following a specific complaint.
“We have brought him in for interrogation regarding the hacking incident. His mobile phone and laptop have been seized for forensic examination. Further legal action will be taken based on the findings,” the DB chief told reporters.
Background of the Incident
The controversy erupted last Saturday afternoon when a post in English appeared on the X handle of Shafiqur Rahman. The post contained highly controversial remarks regarding women’s empowerment, describing the participation of women in the workforce under the guise of “modernity” as a form of “prostitution.”
The post sparked immediate and widespread backlash on social media. Activists and influencers, particularly those aligned with the BNP, condemned the statement as a grave insult to working women.
Jamaat’s Allegations of Phishing
In response to the outcry, Jamaat-e-Islami issued a statement Saturday night claiming the account had been hacked. On Sunday, the party held an emergency press conference at its Moghbazar central office, where its IT cell members, Sirajul Islam and Mahmudur Rahman, presented technical evidence of the breach.
According to Jamaat’s IT experts, the hackers gained access through a sophisticated phishing attack. They alleged that a malicious file titled Case-Study-Election.accdr was sent to the party’s official email from a government address: assistantprogrammer@bangabhaban.gov.bd. Once the file was accessed, the hackers reportedly took control of the Ameer’s device and social media handle.
“Justice is Necessary”
Following the news of the detention, Shafiqur Rahman expressed his relief on his official Facebook page. He thanked the law enforcement agencies for their prompt action and emphasized the importance of accountability.
“I hope that justice will be served, which is very much necessary. There is no alternative to such legal action if cybercrime is to be controlled and the upcoming election is to be conducted fairly,” the Jamaat leader wrote.
Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, a Jamaat delegation had visited Bangabhaban to lodge a formal complaint with the President’s Military Secretary, Major General Mohammad Adil Chowdhury, seeking a thorough investigation into the misuse of the official government email server.
