Bangladeshi intelligence community
| বাংলাদেশ গোয়েন্দা সম্প্রদায় | |
 •  | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 16 December 1971 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Bangladesh |
| Headquarters | Prime Minister's Office , Dhaka |
| Employees | Classified |
| Annual budget | Classified |
| Prime Minister responsible | |
| Parent agency | Government of Bangladesh |
| Child agencies | |
The Bangladeshi intelligence community (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ গোয়েন্দা সম্প্রদায়;) is a coordinated network of civilian, military, and law-enforcement intelligence agencies tasked with gathering, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence essential to the national security, foreign policy, counter-terrorism, and strategic interests of the Government of Bangladesh. These agencies work collectively to prevent threats, preserve internal stability, and support defense and foreign relations objectives.
History
Member organizations of the Bangladesh intelligence community include military intelligence of Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police and civilian intelligence and analysis offices within executive ministries. The I.C. is headed by a Director heading each Intelligence agency, who reports to the Prime Minister of the Bangladesh.The organisation and structure of the modern Bangladesh intelligence community has developed its structures from agencies that continued to function after Independence from Pakistan. Bangladesh intelligence agencies today are the National Security Intelligence, the Special Branch, Army Intelligence, Air Force Intelligence, Naval Intelligence and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). During the 1971 Bangladesh Independence War, the Bangladesh Forces in the 11 BDF Sectors also developed an intelligence network within its organisation of guerrilla combat teams that provided the sectors with essential local intelligence. However, the intelligence agency personnel have been and still continues to be recruited and trained from within the particular agency.[1][2] Among their varied responsibilities, the members of the Community collect and produce foreign and domestic intelligence, contribute to military planning, and perform espionage.
Organizations
The Bangladesh Intelligence Community (BIC) is headed by the Prime Minister, who serves as the Chairman and provides overall strategic leadership. Day-to-day coordination among agencies is managed through their respective heads under the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence, or Ministry of Finance, depending on their mandate.
List of members
National Security Intelligence
The National Security Intelligence, also known as the Directorate-General of National Security Intelligence is the principal intelligence agency of Bangladesh responsible for internal security (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.[3] It reports directly to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and is administered from the Prime Minister's Office. Major responsibilities of this agency are to meet up any intelligence required from government, registration and control of foreigners, perform verification role, give protection to the VIPs & VVIPs
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 Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Navy and the Bangladesh 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.
Special Branch
The Special Branch (SB) of the Bangladesh Police 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 intelligence gathering, immigration controls etc.[3][4] 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.
Police Bureau of Investigation
Police Bureau of Investigation is a specialized unit of Bangladesh Police. It was formed on 18 Sep 2012 to investigate "sensational" and difficult cases.[5]
Criminal Investigation Department
CID is a specialized wing of the Bangladesh Police. It carries out investigations into crimes, including terrorism, murders and organized crime. It also gives forensic support.[6]
Further reading
References
- ^ Ahmed, Helal Uddin (2012). "Mukti Bahini". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ^ "Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies". Archived from the original on 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
- ^ a b c Bangladesh Intelligence and Security
- ^ "Immigration Police". Archived from the original on 2022-03-26. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
- ^ "PBI". pbi.gov.bd. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Dhaka Tribune". dhakatribune.com. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
