Two WhatsApp messages sent by Chattogram Range Reserve Force (RRF) Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Jahangir Alam, expressing hope that Bangladesh would return to its previous state in December and pledging to chant “Joy Bangla” until his last breath, have emerged as key evidence in a sedition case against him.
The messages, sent on the night of 8 November, were recovered from his mobile phone during a forensic examination after police seized his personal and official phones on 10 November, according to the case statement and investigation sources.
Jahangir was arrested on Saturday night (14 November) over allegations of maintaining contact with leaders and activists of the activities-banned Awami League and sharing administrative information with them.
A court on Sunday (15 November) placed him on a four-day remand in the sedition case.
The two messages are mentioned in the first information report (FIR) filed against him, according to investigation sources.
In the first message, sent at 9:23pm, Jahangir wrote in English: “Dear sir, best wishes for you. Inshallah Bangladesh will be restored to previous state in December. Stay fine sir. Regards sir.”
Thirty-four minutes later, at 9:57pm, he sent another message in Bangla, saying: “Assalamu Alaikum sir. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu. Sir, best wishes. I will continue chanting the slogan Joy Bangla until my last breath. Sir, December is a matter of life and death. People will take to the streets like bees.”
In the same message, he referred to the 1996 movement for establishing a caretaker government. He also recalled taking to the streets as a child, inspired by Bangabandhu’s ideology at his father’s instruction, and expressed his determination to “rescue Bangladesh”.
According to police officials, the messages were sent from a WhatsApp account named ‘Daydreamer’, registered using Jahangir’s personal mobile number. However, investigators have yet to establish who received the messages.
Investigators reportedly came across the conversations while monitoring his communications and activities over allegations that he maintained contact with Awami League leaders and activists and provided them with administrative information.
On 10 November, police seized both his personal and official mobile phones and sent them to Dhaka for forensic examination. The examination reportedly revealed the WhatsApp exchanges.
A Chattogram Range Police investigation committee was also formed to look into the allegations against the officer. The committee was headed by Additional DIG (Operations) of Chattogram Range Shafizul Islam.
After monitoring Jahangir’s communications and activities and collecting relevant information, the committee recommended his arrest and submitted a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ministry approved the recommendation before his arrest.
Jahangir was arrested around 10:30pm on Saturday from the Police Officers’ Mess on Road 2 in Nasirabad Housing Society in Chattogram city.
A joint team of the Special Response Unit (SRU) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) and Panchlaish Police Station carried out the arrest before taking him to the SRU office at Dampara Police Lines.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mohammad Abul Kasem Chowdhury of the Chattogram Range RRF filed the case against him with Panchlaish Police Station.
The case was filed under Sections 124A and 153 of the Penal Code, accusing him of sedition and incitement to riots and violence.
According to the FIR, despite being a police officer, Jahangir had allegedly maintained regular contact with fugitive Awami League leaders and their associates living abroad.
It further alleges that he assisted in planning and implementing a subversive conspiracy, backed by those individuals, to overthrow the incumbent government and state system and restore the previous political order.
Chattogram Range DIG Abdul Kuddus Chowdhury told The Business Standard that two specific messages had been recovered from Jahangir’s mobile phone.
“We found two specific messages on his mobile phone. They contain elements of sedition. A case has been filed. The investigation will clarify the issues further,” he said.
Asked about the recipients of the messages, he said, “It is not clear who the messages were sent to. We expect to obtain this information during interrogation.”
When asked whether any other law enforcement officials were involved in similar activities, the DIG said the matter would also be investigated.
Public Prosecutor Mahfuzul Haque Bhuiyan of the Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Court said Jahangir had attempted to reassure another individual through the WhatsApp messages.
He read out the two messages to journalists and said they had also been included in the FIR.
The prosecutor further said Jahangir’s seized mobile phones had been sent to Dhaka for forensic examination, which confirmed the conversations.
On Sunday, the SRU sought a seven-day remand for interrogation. After a hearing, the court of Fourth Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafa granted four days.
The court also directed the investigating agency to submit a report within seven days.
Jahangir is being interrogated at the SRU office. No lawyer appeared on his behalf during the remand hearing.
Wife claims phone was hacked
Jahangir’s wife, Masuma Akter, has denied the allegations against her husband, claiming that he is innocent and that his mobile phone had been hacked.
She also denied that he was involved in any political activities.
“My husband does not come from a political family. His father is an ordinary farmer. As a farmer’s son, he struggled hard to pursue his education. He never thought about politics and remained occupied with his studies,” she said.
She added, “He completed his honours and master’s degrees in English. Yet the way he is being portrayed in the media as someone involved in political activities is not right.”
There have also been claims that Jahangir filed a general diary (GD) after his mobile phone was hacked. However, it could not be independently confirmed which police station received the GD or whether he lodged any complaint with CMP, district police, range police or any relevant unit of the Special Response Battalion (RAB).
No documentary evidence or specific information confirming such a complaint was available.
Jahangir joined the police force in 2010. When the Awami League government fell on 5 August 2024, he was serving as additional superintendent of police in Feni.
Most recently, he served as deputy commandant of the Chattogram Range Reserve Force, holding the rank of superintendent of police.
His home is in Chandapasha village of Shibpur upazila in Narsingdi.
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