Dhaka, Feb 5, 2026: A Dhaka court has granted bail to Mohammad Sarwar-e-Alam, an assistant programmer at the Bangabhaban ICT section, following his arrest for the alleged hacking of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman's X (formerly Twitter) account.
The decision was delivered on Thursday by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Junaid. The legal proceedings have drawn significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the victim and the suspect’s employment at the President’s official residence.
Key Legal ArgumentsDuring the hearing, the court heard conflicting narratives from the defense and the prosecution:
The Defense: Counsel Md. Alamgir requested bail on any condition, arguing that Alam—a veteran employee with 32 years of service—was a victim of "political circumstances." He maintained that his client had no motive to jeopardize his career and pension so close to retirement.
The Prosecution: Lawyers representing the Jamaat leader opposed the bail, claiming that forensic evidence from Alam's mobile phone suggested involvement. They alleged the hack was a deliberate attempt to create social instability ahead of the national elections.
The judge eventually granted bail upon a Tk 5,000 bond after the suspect personally addressed the court, claiming "100 percent innocence" and noting that he had voluntarily surrendered his devices to investigators.
Summary of the Cyberattack:
The case stems from an incident on January 31, when an "objectionable and misogynistic" post was published on the Jamaat Ameer's verified X handle. The post sparked immediate controversy and was later disavowed by the party as a result of a cyberattack.
Timeline of Events: Date,Event
Jan 31,Derogatory post appeared on Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s X account. Feb 1,Jamaat filed a General Diary (GD) claiming the account was hacked via a phishing email. Feb 3,Sarwar-e-Alam was detained from his Rajarbagh government residence. Feb 4,"Formal charges were filed under the Cyber Security Ordinance, and Alam was shown arrested." Feb 5,Dhaka court granted bail to the accused.
Investigation Details:
The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) stated earlier that they found "initial evidence" linking the hacking attempt to a government-affiliated email address.
The party's ICT cell alleged that a phishing link was sent from an address associated with the assistant programmer’s office.While the court has allowed Alam to return home, law enforcement confirmed that forensic examinations of the seized laptops and mobile phones are still underway to identify any other individuals involved in the breach.
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