Dhaka, Feb 5, 2026: In a significant legal development, a Dhaka court on Thursday granted bail to Mohammad Sarwar Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban (the President's official residence).
The official was detained earlier this week in connection with the alleged hacking of the X (formerly Twitter) account of Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
Judicial Proceedings and Bail Order
The hearing took place in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Zunaid. After considering the arguments from both the defense and the prosecution, the court approved the bail application.
According to court sources:
The Defense: Lawyer Md. Alamgir argued that his client was being targeted for political reasons and had no involvement in the cyberattack. He emphasized that Sarwar Alam is a long-standing government employee nearing retirement and poses no flight risk.
The Prosecution: Advocate Md. Abdur Razzaque, representing the plaintiff, strongly opposed the bail. He cited preliminary forensic findings and argued that the hacking was a calculated attempt to incite social unrest ahead of the elections.
The Accused’s Statement: During the session, Sarwar Alam maintained his innocence, stating, “I have cooperated fully with the investigation and handed over my devices. I would never risk my pension and reputation at this stage of my career for such an act.”
Background of the Case
The controversy began last Saturday afternoon when a post appeared on Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s verified X handle. The post contained remarks about women that were widely condemned as derogatory, sparking intense backlash across social media platforms.
Jamaat’s Stance: The party immediately clarified that the account had been compromised. They filed a General Diary (GD) and later a formal case under the Cyber Security Act at the Hatirjheel Police Station.
The Investigation: Detectives from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) detained Sarwar Alam from his residence in the Rajarbagh government quarters on Tuesday night. Law enforcement officials seized his laptop and mobile phone for forensic analysis to trace the origin of the hack.
Allegations of "Phishing"
Jamaat-e-Islami’s ICT cell presented findings suggesting that the hacking was executed through a phishing email sent from a government domain linked to Bangabhaban. While the official was granted bail today, the police investigation remains ongoing to determine the full extent of the breach and identify any other accomplices.
