Hackers Hit Hundreds of Bangladeshi Websites
Multiple Indian hacker groups have claimed responsibility for launching cyberattacks on more than a hundred Bangladeshi websites, including those of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Dhaka WASA. Hacker collectives identified as ‘Trojan 1337’ and ‘The Red Eagle’ claimed leadership of the attacks, while several international hacking organizations were reportedly involved as well.
Among the compromised sites were those belonging to several secondary educational institutions. Though the website of Rupnagar Government Secondary School was hacked, the NBR website remained operational. In contrast, Dhaka WASA’s website was breached, with attackers extracting data and posting a one-and-a-half-minute video on another hacker group’s website.
According to information from hacker groups’ Telegram channels, a team called ‘Seven Proxy’ was specifically behind the cyberattack on the NBR.
The wave of attacks began on Friday, August 15, at noon, carried out in a coordinated manner after advance announcements were made in several Telegram groups. On Telegram, hackers claimed to have successfully targeted nearly 100 websites, publishing a list of several affected institutions. However, no clear explanation was provided as to why hackers launched cyber offensives on the websites of another independent nation on their own Independence Day. Some reports speculated that the attacks were linked to strained relations between the interim Bangladeshi government and India, as well as the observance of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s death anniversary.
Meanwhile, the group ‘Trojan 1337’ also attacked the website of Savar Union Parishad, leaving a message stating: “Independence is never given—it must be taken.” The same group reportedly seized control of Rohitpur Union Parishad’s website and further claimed to have hacked into 22 educational institution websites across Bangladesh, stealing sensitive information.
As of the time of writing this report, no official statement had been issued by any government agency regarding the incident.
