Four policemen held over sale of sensitive data

Four police constables have been arrested for allegedly collecting and selling sensitive personal information, including call detail records (CDRs), mobile phone locations, national identification (NID) data, passport details and SMS records, according to police.

The suspects were identified as Simon Hossain Rashed and Masum Mia of Demra Police Station, Nizam Uddin of Wari Police Station, and Md Jihad Mia of Turag Police Station.

Police allege that the four used their official positions and government email accounts to unlawfully obtain CDRs and other confidential information and then sell or distribute the data through social media platforms.

The allegations include illegally obtaining CDRs through deception, selling and disseminating them online, criminal breach of trust, and transferring sensitive state information to third parties.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (Detective) Md Shafiqul Islam confirmed the arrests to reporters on Wednesday.

He said the suspects were allegedly involved in selling citizens’ NID information as well as SIM-location data, CDRs, SMS records and passport information. After being questioned in custody, they were sent to jail, he said.

According to the case statement, despite being government employees, the four allegedly exploited their official access to obtain call records, last-known mobile locations, NID details and other information linked to citizens’ SIM cards and phone numbers before transferring or distributing the data through social media.

The case was filed at Ramna Police Station on September 29 by DB Sub-Inspector Abidur Rahman. The Cyber and Special Crime North Division of the DB is investigating the case.

Investigators reportedly detected the suspected data-selling operation on September 10 during cyber monitoring.

They found advertisements or exchanges involving the sale of CDRs linked to various mobile numbers on a Facebook account, a WhatsApp account and a Telegram group.

Investigators subsequently traced a bKash number allegedly used to receive payments for the sale of the data.

Police said the investigation is continuing to determine the full extent of the alleged operation and whether others were involved.