- Bangladeshi intelligence community
The Bangladeshi intelligence community consists of several intelligence agencies charged with carrying out
espionage ,counter-espionage and other functions vital for the national security ofBangladesh . The most important intelligence outfits are theNational Security Intelligence and theDirectorate 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 andEast Pakistan periods of the country, which included theIntelligence Bureau and theInter-Services Intelligence (ISI). During the 1971Bangladesh Liberation War , theMukti Bahini nationalist guerrilla force also developed an intelligence network within its organisation of guerrilla combat teams that provided the alliedIndian Army with essential local intelligence. [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/M_0380.htm Mukti Bahini] ] [http://www.ipcs.org/printMilitary.jsp?action=showView&kValue=235&military=1013 Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies] ]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 andcounterintelligence . [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bd0146) Bangladesh Intelligence and Security] ] Although distinct from theMilitary of Bangladesh , it is led by a senior military officer. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bd0146) Bangladesh Intelligence and Security] ] It reports directly to thePrime Minister of Bangladesh .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. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bd0146) Bangladesh Intelligence and Security] ] The DGFI also includes subdivisions specifically serving theBangladeshi Army , theBangladeshi Navy and theBangladeshi 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. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bd0146) Bangladesh Intelligence and Security] ]Other agencies
The Special Branch of the
Bangladesh Police is responsible forcriminal investigation as well as tasks of counterintelligence and domestic intelligence. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bd0146) Bangladesh Intelligence and Security] ] Another important organ is thePresident's Guard Regiment . Formed by former presidentHossain Mohammad Ershad , the force is charged with the personal security of thePresident of Bangladesh and his family. The commander of the Presidential Security Force is an armybrigadier who reports directly to the president. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bd0146) Bangladesh Intelligence and Security] ]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. [http://www.acdis.uiuc.edu/research/OPs/Saikia/contents/chap_two.html Terror Sans Frontiers: Islamic Militancy in North East India] ] During the military regimes of
Ziaur Rahman andHossain Mohammad Ershad , Bangladesh's intelligence agencies were seen as highly politicised and active in the repression of political activities. [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/02/opinion/edkhali.php Surviving torture in Bangladesh] ] During Ershad's rule, intelligence chiefs were amongst the president's closest advisers. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bd0146) Bangladesh Intelligence and Security] ] 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 theUnited Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and Islamic terrorist outfits such as theHarkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI). [http://www.acdis.uiuc.edu/research/OPs/Saikia/contents/chap_two.html Terror Sans Frontiers: Islamic Militancy in North East India] ] [http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/09raman.htm ULFA, an agent for India's enemies] ] [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/11/03/stories/2005110300721000.htm The Bangladesh Challenge] ]References
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