Two people associated with the Awami League were detained in Maheshpur, Jhenaidah, after police reportedly recovered suspected illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calling devices during a raid on Tuesday, 29 September.
The district Detective Branch of Police conducted the operation at a house in the Sarishaghat area of Shyampur Union at around noon. The two men were detained during the raid, while the devices found at the premises were seized for further examination.
The detainees have been identified as Abdur Rahim, 54, a member of the Shyampur Union Parishad from Ward 6 and an Awami League leader, and Shaheb Ali, 30, a local Youth League leader.
Shariful Islam, officer-in-charge of the Jhenaidah Detective Branch, confirmed the detention. He said the seized equipment would be sent to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission for technical examination.
According to the officer, experts will assess the devices before any further legal action is taken. Their findings are expected to determine the nature and technical capabilities of the equipment and whether it was being used in a manner that breached telecommunications regulations.
VoIP technology allows voice calls to be transmitted over internet networks rather than through conventional telephone systems. The technology itself has legitimate uses, but telecommunications authorities regulate the operation of voice services and the use of related equipment. Unauthorised telecommunications arrangements can therefore become subject to investigation when suspected violations are identified.
In the Maheshpur case, police have not yet provided details about the exact number, type or technical specifications of the devices seized during the operation. Nor have they disclosed how the equipment was allegedly being used. Those issues are expected to be clarified through the technical assessment and the subsequent investigation.
The decision to send the equipment for examination indicates that the authorities are seeking technical evidence before determining the next stage of the case. Such an assessment can establish whether the devices are capable of handling VoIP traffic and whether their configuration or use is consistent with the relevant telecommunications requirements.
Police said legal action would be taken based on the findings of the experts and information gathered during the investigation. The identities of the detainees and their political affiliations have been disclosed, but the allegations concerning the use of the seized equipment remain subject to investigation.
The operation comes as law enforcement agencies continue to monitor suspected misuse of telecommunications technology. In cases involving specialised equipment, technical examination can play a central role in establishing how a device was being used and whether its operation breached applicable regulations.
Further developments in the Maheshpur case are expected after the seized devices are examined and investigators assess the findings alongside other evidence collected during the operation.
