The subdomain website of Dhaka University (DU) used for managing academic activities was hacked late Thursday night by a group identifying itself as “Muslim Blackhats and Spy Agent Systemadminbd.” The hackers issued a message calling on students to intensify protests against ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) and condemned an alleged assassination attempt on anti-discrimination student leaders Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam.
Hackers’ Message
Upon accessing the website, users were met with a warning that read:
“We urge DU students to accelerate their protests against ISKCON and stand united. Demand justice for the assassination attempts on Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam.” The hackers accused ISKCON and Prothom Alo, a leading Bangladeshi newspaper, of being influenced by Indian intelligence.
The message also contained an appeal to DU administration and academic Asif Nazrul, urging him to address the issue more critically.
Claims of Security
The hackers clarified that no files on the server were damaged:
“This hack was executed solely to deliver a message. All files remain secure.”
The warning included hashtags such as #banISKCON, #banProthomAlo, and #justiceshouldbeserved, alongside a Telegram link to a channel called “Systemadminbd (Official),” which claimed responsibility for the breach.
Subdomain, Not Primary Website
University officials confirmed that the hacked site (www.ssl.du.ac.bd) is not DU’s primary website but a subdomain used for student information management and academic activities.
Motives and Context
On the associated Telegram channel, the hackers reiterated their call for heightened protests against ISKCON and Prothom Alo, labeling them as threats to the nation’s sovereignty. They justified the hack as a means to convey this message to students directly.
The incident has sparked concern over digital security measures and the targeting of educational institutions for political messaging. Authorities are yet to comment on any ongoing investigations.
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