NID card data leak: case file against Joy and Palak

A case has been filed against 19 individuals, including Sajeeb Wazed Joy, former ICT advisor to Bangladesh‍‍`s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former state minister, over allegations of leaking national ID data of Bangladeshi citizens.

An aggrieved party lodged the complaint under the Cyber Security Act at Kafrul Police Station in Dhaka on Wednesday early in the night.

According to the case details, Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Zunaid Ahmed Palak abused their power and sold more than a million Bangladeshi citizens‍‍` national Identity card information through an organized network.

The accused allegedly permitted Digicon Global Services Limited to use NID data for business purposes without ensuring the security of national and personal information.

NID data was reportedly sold to around 182 local and international organizations, raising concerns about public safety.

The case further includes claims of embezzling nearly 200 billion BDT from these transactions.

The issue came to light after an investigative report by the private TV channel Jamuna revealed that the Election Commission and Bangladesh Computer Council had been selling citizens‍‍` data through an app called Porichoi.

The televised report also mentioned that the head of Digicon Global Services Limited is a friend of Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and the company was authorized to use NID data for business purposes since 2012.