Proxy server may have been used from abroad to hack Jamaat chief's X account: DB

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) believe the hacking of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman's X account may have been carried out from outside the country using a proxy server, although the identity and location of those responsible have not yet been confirmed.

Earlier in the day (4 February), the DB detained a Bangabhaban official named Mohammad Sarwar-e-Alam, in connection with the alleged hacking of the X account of Shafiqur Rahman.

He was detained from a government quarter adjacent to the Rajarbagh Police Lines Auditorium and brought to the DB office for questioning. He was questioned in connection with allegations that Shafiqur Rahman's device was accessed and used to post controversial content from his X account. 

A case has already been filed over the alleged hacking incident. He was later shown arrested in the case, according to DB.

DB detains Bangabhaban official over hacking of Jamaat chief's X account

Speaking to The Business Standard, DMP Additional Commissioner (DB) Shafiqul Islam said, "Sarwar-e-Alam's mobile phone and computer were seized and are currently being examined, but no final conclusion has been reached so far."

According to DB investigation sources, prior to his detention Sarwar-e-Alam told police that he had received an email a few days earlier that used the name of a senior official from Bangabhaban. When he opened the email, he found no content. 

On the advice of colleagues, he later deleted it, though he had taken a screenshot of the email and shared it with his superiors.

DB officials suspect the email may have been a phishing attempt, through which hackers could have gained control of his email account. However, investigators said, "No evidence linking Sarwar-e-Alam's computer or other devices to the hacking has been found so far."

A DB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told TBS that preliminary findings indicate that Sarwar-e-Alam was not directly involved in hacking the X account and that no signs of such activity were detected on his devices. 

"The use of a proxy server has made it difficult to trace the origin of the attack, though investigators believe it may have originated from outside Bangladesh. The investigation is still ongoing and nothing has been finalised yet," the official added.

Sarwar is a resident of Cumilla and lives with his wife and two children in a flat in the hospital zone of the AGP colony in Dhaka. Following the police operation, his family members reportedly left for their village.