Bangladeshi intelligence community
Encyclopedia
The Bangladeshi intelligence community consists of several intelligence agencies charged with carrying out espionage
, counter-espionage
and other functions vital for the national security of Bangladesh
. The organisation and structure of the modern Bangladeshi intelligence community is derived largely from agencies that functioned during the British colonial
and East Pakistan
periods of the country, which included the Intelligence Bureau
and the Inter-Services Intelligence
(ISI). During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
, the Mukti Bahini
nationalist guerrilla force also developed an intelligence network within its organisation of guerrilla combat teams that provided the allied Indian Army
with essential local intelligence.
(including internal political affairs), foreign intelligence and counterintelligence. Although distinct from the Military of Bangladesh
, it is sometimes led by a retired senior military officer. It reports directly to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh
and is administered from the Prime Minister's Office
.
is the country's first intelligence agency. Major responsibilities of this branch are to meet up any intelligence required from government, registration and control of foreigners, perform verification role, give protection to the VIPs & VVIPs, intelligence gathering, immigration controls etc. Interestingly, this is the only intelligence outfit of Bangladesh which works in all strategic, operational and tactical levels. It reports directly to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh
.
outfit, responsible for intelligence gathering for all military purposes. The DGFI also includes subdivisions specifically serving the Bangladeshi Army, the Bangladeshi Navy and the Bangladeshi Air Force, but the agency itself is distinct and unified for all military intelligence functions. It is also responsible for policing the ranks within the services in light of Bangladesh's history of military coups
.
and Hossain Mohammad Ershad
, Bangladesh's intelligence agencies were seen as highly politicised and active in the repression of political activities. During Ershad's rule, intelligence chiefs were amongst the president's closest advisers. In the 1990s and early 2000s, controversy arose over the alleged links maintained by Bangladeshi intelligence agencies with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency of Pakistan and their patronage of anti-India
separatist groups such as the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and Islamic terrorist outfits such as the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami
(HUJI).
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
, counter-espionage
Counter-Espionage
-Cast:* Warren William as Michael Lanyard* Eric Blore as Jamison* Hillary Brooke as Pamela Hart* Thurston Hall as Insp. Crane* Fred Kelsey as Detective Wesley Dickens* Forrest Tucker as Anton Schugg* Matthew Boulton as Inspector J...
and other functions vital for the national security of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. The organisation and structure of the modern Bangladeshi intelligence community is derived largely from agencies that functioned during the British colonial
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
and East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
periods of the country, which included the Intelligence Bureau
Intelligence Bureau
Intelligence Bureau was the main internal intelligence agency of British India. It can also refer to:* Intelligence Bureau , the domestic intelligence organization of India...
and the Inter-Services Intelligence
Inter-Services Intelligence
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
(ISI). During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
, the Mukti Bahini
Mukti Bahini
Mukti Bahini , also termed as the "Freedom Fighters" or FFs, collectively refers to the armed organizations who fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It was dynamically formed by Bengali regulars and civilians after the proclamation of Bangladesh's independence on...
nationalist guerrilla force also developed an intelligence network within its organisation of guerrilla combat teams that provided the allied Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
with essential local intelligence.
National Security Intelligence
The National Security Intelligence, also known as the Directorate-General of National Security Intelligence is the primary intelligence agency responsible for internal securityInternal security
Internal security, or IS, is the act of keeping peace within the borders of a sovereign state or other self-governing territories. generally by upholding the national law and defending against internal security threats...
(including internal political affairs), foreign intelligence and counterintelligence. Although distinct from the Military of Bangladesh
Military of Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Armed Forces consists of the three uniformed military services of Bangladesh: the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Navy and the Bangladesh Air Force. The para-military Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Coast Guard are under the jurisdiction of the during peacetime, but during...
, it is sometimes led by a retired senior military officer. It reports directly to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
The Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is the Head of the Government of Bangladesh. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Jatiya Sangsad Parliament, to their political party and ultimately to the electorate...
and is administered from the Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister's Office (Bangladesh)
The Prime Minister’s Office of Bangladesh is the office of the prime minister of Bangladesh. It is located at Tejgaon in Dhaka city. It is the head of the government Office of Bangladesh. This office was situated in Sher-E-Bangla Nagar at the adjacent building of Ministry of Defence of Bangladesh...
.
Special Branch
The Special Branch (SB) of the Bangladesh PoliceBangladesh Police
The Bangladesh Police is the main law enforcement agency of Bangladesh. It is administered under the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh. It plays a crucial role in maintaining peace and enforcement of law and order within the whole of Bangladesh...
is the country's first intelligence agency. Major responsibilities of this branch are to meet up any intelligence required from government, registration and control of foreigners, perform verification role, give protection to the VIPs & VVIPs, intelligence gathering, immigration controls etc. Interestingly, this is the only intelligence outfit of Bangladesh which works in all strategic, operational and tactical levels. It reports directly to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
The Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is the Head of the Government of Bangladesh. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Jatiya Sangsad Parliament, to their political party and ultimately to the electorate...
.
Directorate General of Forces Intelligence
The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) is the main military intelligenceMilitary intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
outfit, responsible for intelligence gathering for all military purposes. The DGFI also includes subdivisions specifically serving the Bangladeshi Army, the Bangladeshi Navy and the Bangladeshi Air Force, but the agency itself is distinct and unified for all military intelligence functions. It is also responsible for policing the ranks within the services in light of Bangladesh's history of military coups
Military coups in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has faced several military coups since its independence from Pakistan in 1971.-15 August:The coup of 15 August 1975 was organized by officers of Bangladesh Army. They were led by Major Syed Faruqe Rahman and Major Rashid...
.
Controversies
Although their role and structure is clearly defined and governed by law, Bangladesh's intelligence community has been criticised in the media and by other governments and agencies for alleged ties to terrorist groups and foreign intelligence agencies. During the military regimes of Ziaur RahmanZiaur Rahman
President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, was a Bangladeshi politician and general, who read the declaration of Independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971 on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He later became the seventh President of Bangladesh from 1977 until 1981...
and Hossain Mohammad Ershad
Hossain Mohammad Ershad
Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad is a Bangladeshi politician who was President of Bangladesh from 1983 to 1990. Previously, he was Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Army and then Chief Martial Law Administrator in 1982....
, Bangladesh's intelligence agencies were seen as highly politicised and active in the repression of political activities. During Ershad's rule, intelligence chiefs were amongst the president's closest advisers. In the 1990s and early 2000s, controversy arose over the alleged links maintained by Bangladeshi intelligence agencies with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency of Pakistan and their patronage of anti-India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
separatist groups such as the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and Islamic terrorist outfits such as the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami
Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami
Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami is an Islamic fundamentalist organization most active in South Asian countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and India since the early 1990s. It was banned in Bangladesh in 2005. The operational commander of HuJI, Ilyas Kashmiri, was reportedly killed in a U.S. Predator drone...
(HUJI).