Dhaka, April 19 -- Police have launched an investigation after attempts were made to collect sensitive information from foreign diplomatic missions by impersonating Bangladesh's cabinet secretary, using a mobile phone number registered in the country.

Additional Inspector General Sardar Nurul Amin, chief of the Special Branch, said investigators believe the operation was conducted from outside Bangladesh.

"Preliminary findings suggest the number was cloned and the calls were made from abroad. The matter is being treated with utmost seriousness," he told bdnews24.com on Sunday.

According to a letter issued by the home ministry on Apr 9, unknown individuals used the name and identity of Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani to seek sensitive a...