No Progress in Probe into Jamaat Amir's Hacked X Account as Police Still Lack His Devices

There has been no progress in the investigation into the hacking of the X (formerly Twitter) account of Shafiqur Rahman, leader of the opposition in parliament and Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has sought information about the account from the social media platform and has also sought information from several institutions. Although a decision was taken to forensically examine some devices, investigators have still not received Shafiqur Rahman's mobile phone and devices.

Officials claim that because the devices have not been obtained, there is no progress in the investigation and the mystery of the hack has not yet been solved.

On 31 January, the party claimed that the Jamaat Amir's X handle had been hacked. A case was filed at Hatirjheel Police Station over the incident. The case is being investigated by the DB's Cyber and Special Crime-South unit.

Md Tariqul Islam, deputy commissioner of the DMP's Detective-Cyber and Special Crime Division (South), said on Tuesday that forensic examination had not been possible because the Jamaat Amir's devices had not been received. He said all aspects of information are needed for the investigation to be comprehensive, and the real truth will be known after all reports are received.

The case was filed by Md Sirajul Islam, a member of the party's National Election Management Committee 2026 and coordinator of its Campaign Division. The complaint alleged that Mohammad Sarware Alam, an assistant programmer at the President's office, along with 15 to 20 unnamed persons, illegally accessed computers and digital devices to hack Dr Shafiqur Rahman's official X account. Misogynistic, obscene and provocative posts were then made from the account, which could spread ethnic violence, hatred and riots, the complaint said.

Investigation sources said a letter was sent to the X authorities seeking information about the hack, but no response was received. The X authorities said that to obtain information about an individual's account, a formal process through the courts of the two countries must be followed. This has made it difficult to collect important information for the investigation.

For the investigation, it is essential to seize devices and other evidence and examine them forensically. Investigating officer SI Rezaul Amin wrote to complainant Sirajul Islam four times seeking the devices and other evidence. But the DB said they have not been submitted.

Meanwhile, the DB arrested Mohammad Sarware Alam, assistant programmer at the President's office, from his home in the capital's AGB Colony on the night of 3 February. His mobile phone and laptop were seized at the time and sent to the CID for forensic examination. However, the investigating agency has not yet received those reports.

Sarware Alam was granted bail by the court two days after his arrest. Denying the allegations, he said he knew nothing about it, yet had been made an accused in the case, and that the truth would come out if there was a proper investigation.

An official involved in the investigation said on Tuesday that police received the President's office employee's devices as soon as they asked for them, but the forensic report has not yet arrived. A conclusion cannot be reached from the report of one device alone, so the Jamaat Amir's devices must also be examined forensically.

When Jamaat Amir's lawyer Abdur Razzak was asked about not handing over the devices, he said it was a long time ago and he does not remember the matter now.

People involved in the investigation say no confirmed information has been found on whether the account was hacked because of an email from the President's office, nor is there evidence to confirm whether that email reached Jamaat. Apart from screenshots attached to the complaint, no other evidence on this could be collected.

Cybercrime expert, digital forensic researcher and International Crimes Tribunal prosecutor Tanvir Hassan Zoha believes there will be no progress in this case if the complainant and victim do not hand over their devices to the investigating officer. He said the longer the delay in giving the devices, the greater the risk of evidence being lost, and eventually nothing may be found.

Complainant Sirajul Islam said: "Regarding handing over the devices they (DB) have asked for in the interest of the investigation, we have already gone to the DB office twice and spoken to the officials concerned. We discussed how the devices can be handed over and how their security will be ensured."