Two EC officials arrested for selling NID data

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested two officials of the Election Commission (EC) on allegations of illegally selling sensitive National Identity (NID) information, in a case investigators say generated more than Tk 100 million a month.

The arrests were made at the Gazaria Upazila Election Office, CID Cyber Police Centre (CPC) Deputy Inspector General Md Abul Bashar Talukder said at a press briefing on Thursday.

Those arrested are assistant-cum-computer operator Md Habibullah, 41, and outsourced data entry operator Md Alamin, 39.

According to preliminary investigations, Alamin had access to confidential EC login credentials, including a secret ID and password, which allowed verification of citizens’ NID data. Investigators said he shared the access with Habibullah in exchange for weekly bribes of Tk 4,000 to Tk 5,000.

Using the credentials, Habibullah allegedly sold sensitive NID information of citizens at prices ranging from Tk 200 to Tk 300 per record. CID officials said that in just 30 days, more than 365,000 NID records were sold. At an estimated Tk 300 per record, the illegal transactions amounted to nearly Tk 110 million.

DIG Abul Bashar said the proceeds were used by Habibullah to finance a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of a personal flat in Dhaka.

During initial interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to accessing the EC server through OTP-based authentication and selling NID data via social media platforms.

Two mobile phones were seized during the arrests. A case has been filed with Paltan Model Police Station.

"Any other individuals found to be involved in the data trafficking network will be brought to justice," the DIG added.