Sensitive NID data sold online, 2 EC officials held

With access to confidential IDs and passwords that allowed him to view NID data across the country. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested two officials of the Election Commission (EC) for allegedly selling sensitive national ID data via social media.

The arrested are Md Habibullah, office assistant-cum-computer operator at Gazaria Upazila Election Office in Munshiganj and Md Alamin, a data entry operator (outsourcing) at Dhaka Election Commission office.

Alamin was detained from the Agargaon Election Office in Dhaka on Wednesday. Following information provided by him, Habibullah was nabbed at 12:10 am from the Chandrima Housing area in Mohammadpur. Two mobile phones were seized as evidence.

CID’s Cyber Police Centre DIG Md Abul Bashar Talukder confirmed the arrests at a press briefing at the CID headquarters in Malibagh on Thursday.

He said Habibullah joined the EC in 2008 as an office assistant-cum-computer operator and had been working at the Dhaka EC office since 2013 before being transferred to the Munshiganj Upazila office in April 2025. Alamin had worked alongside him in Dhaka as a data entry operator since 2016, with access to confidential IDs and passwords that allowed him to view NID data across the country. Habibullah’s access, by contrast, was limited to citizens of Gazaria Upazila.

According to him, Alamin provided Habibullah with his confidential ID and password due to prior acquaintance and trust. Habibullah reportedly paid Alamin Tk 4,000–5,000 per week in return. Using this access, Habibullah sold NID information for Tk 200–300 per record.

Investigations revealed in just one week, 112,150 NID records were accessed, and over a 30-day period, 365,608 records were viewed. Based on an average price of Tk 300 per record, Habibullah allegedly illegally earned nearly Tk 11 crore. He used the proceeds to purchase a flat in Dhaka, other movable and immovable assets, and to maintain a luxurious lifestyle.

The CID stated the two men, long part of a fraudulent network, had been illegally accessing the EC’s NID servers, collecting sensitive data and selling it to individuals via social media platforms in exchange for large sums of money. Both men have reportedly confessed to their involvement.

Deshkal News

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