Bangladeshi intelligence community
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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 most important intelligence outfits are the National Security Intelligence and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence. 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.[1][2]
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[edit] 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 security (including internal political affairs), foreign intelligence and counterintelligence.[3] Although distinct from the Military of Bangladesh, it is led by a senior military officer.[3] It reports directly to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
[edit] Directorate-General of Forces Intelligence
The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) is the main military intelligence outfit, responsible for intelligence gathering for all military purposes.[3] 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. [3]
[edit] Other agencies
The Special Branch of the Bangladesh Police is responsible for criminal investigation as well as tasks of counterintelligence and domestic intelligence.[3] Another important organ is the President's Guard Regiment. Formed by former president Hossain Mohammad Ershad, the force is charged with the personal security of the President of Bangladesh and his family. The commander of the Presidential Security Force is an army brigadier who reports directly to the president.[3]
[edit] 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.[4] During the military regimes of Ziaur Rahman and Hossain Mohammad Ershad, Bangladesh's intelligence agencies were seen as highly politicised and active in the repression of political activities.[5] During Ershad's rule, intelligence chiefs were amongst the president's closest advisers.[3] In the 1990s and early 200s, 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).[4][6][7]
