A controversy surrounding an alleged hack of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman’s verified X account has deepened political tensions in Bangladesh, with analysts warning that premature blame could echo the discredited “Joj Mia” episode of the past.
While Jamaat has publicly accused a Bangabhaban official of involvement, law enforcement agencies say investigations are ongoing and no link has yet been established. However, the Bangabhaban official was listed as arrested in case filed by Jamaat.
The dispute began after an offensive, misogynistic post briefly appeared on Shafiqur Rahman’s X account, triggering strong reactions from BNP, several political parties and women leaders, who questioned Jamaat’s stance and accountability.
Jamaat soon claimed the account had been hacked and said it had regained control within an hour.
According to Jamaat, the account was compromised after 4pm on 31 January, and an “unwanted and objectionable” post was published at 4:37pm.
The party said its central IT team intervened immediately, changing the password and restoring full control by 5:09pm. At 5:22pm, Jamaat announced publicly that the account had been hacked and later filed a general diary with Hatirjheel police station the same night.
However, the matter escalated when Jamaat alleged that Mohammad Sarwar Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban, the residence and primary workplace of the president, was involved in the hacking.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) says it is examining the claim but has not yet found evidence confirming his involvement.
DB officials said Sarwar Alam was brought in for questioning late Tuesday night from his residence in Rajarbagh to the DB office on Minto Road. He has not been arrested or formally detained. His mobile phone and laptop have been seized and sent for forensic and chemical examination, with investigators awaiting reports before drawing conclusions.
Additional Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam, head of the DMP’s Detective Branch, told TIMES of Bangladesh that questioning is being conducted based on information obtained from the investigation, including the general diary filed at Hatirjheel police station.
“We are speaking to him and asking for answers to specific questions. So far, his involvement has not been confirmed,” he said.
On Wednesday night, DB head Shafiqul Islam said at a press conference that investigators had found no evidence linking the Bangabhaban official to the hacking of Jamaat’s Ameer’s X account.
He added that the official’s involvement could not be confirmed until forensic lab reports were received. Nevertheless, the official was listed as arrested in the case filed at Hatirjheel police station.
When asked about the reasons for the arrest and other details, DB officers declined to comment.
However, when contacted on Wednesday night, Hatirjheel police station’s officer-in-charge, Golam Mortoza, said his station had no role in the matter. He said they had not shown anyone as arrested and that all actions were being handled by the Detective Branch.
The contrasting statements from the DB chief and the Hatirjheel police officer have added to the mystery surrounding the case.
Senior cyber security officials echoed the statements of the DB chief. Syed Harun Or Rashid, joint police commissioner of the Cyber Security and Support Centre (South), said DB officers were speaking with Sarwar Alam and that the investigation was continuing. DC (Cyber) Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabdar said the cyber unit was coordinating closely and that findings would depend on forensic evidence.
Despite this, Jamaat’s media and publicity chief Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair publicly claimed that Sarwar Alam was involved, alleging that his email account was used to hack Shafiqur Rahman’s X handle and saying legal action would be taken against him.
Investigators noted that such claims were made despite Sarwar Alam being questioned for more than 12 hours without any confirmation of his involvement, a move that has raised eyebrows among observers.
Political analysts say this pattern has uncomfortable historical parallels. Tawohidul Haque, an associate professor at Dhaka University’s Institute of Social Welfare and Research and a crime analyst, told TIMES that political parties often try to define the narrative when they come under public scrutiny.
“This is not new in Bangladesh’s political culture,” he said.
“All parties have done it in the past. We saw this clearly during the ‘Joj Mia’ episode.” He added that if law enforcement agencies and the government act cautiously and independently, such situations can be avoided.
The reference is to the aftermath of the 21 August 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka, which killed 24 people and injured hundreds.
During the investigation, the Criminal Investigation Department produced a poor man from Senbagh in Noakhali, popularly known as “Joj Mia”, claiming he carried out the attack in exchange for money. The narrative later collapsed amid widespread criticism and is now widely regarded as a fabricated attempt to mislead the investigation.
Cybercrime experts also urge restraint. Professor Omar Faruk of the Department of Police and Criminal Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University said that in the digital age, criminals often hack accounts to frame innocent people.
He warned that hacking and political propaganda tend to increase around election periods. “Without specific proof, declaring someone guilty or placing them in custody is not appropriate,” he said.
Jamaat has demanded a full investigation report and updates within 24 hours of the incident.
On Tuesday afternoon, a delegation led by Sirajul Islam, a planner and member of the party’s central election management committee, submitted a written complaint to Bangabhaban. Later that night, DB officials questioned Sarwar Alam as part of efforts to verify information provided by Jamaat.
Bangabhaban officials say they are cooperating with investigators following the emergence of Sarwar Alam’s name. Several officials, including the president’s secretary, personal secretary, a joint secretary and the PLO, are said to be coordinating with the DB team and providing necessary information.
When contacted by TIMES, they declined to comment. Another Bangabhaban official said Sarwar Alam’s email account had previously been hacked, though no general diary was filed at the time, adding that the investigation would clarify the facts and that no one should be blamed before proof is established.
