National Security Intelligence


The Directorate General of National Security Intelligence ', commonly known as the NSI''', is the principal civilian intelligence agency of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The NSI's headquarters is in 1 Segunbagicha, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The NSI is the leading body of the Government of Bangladesh in the field of internal security, counter terrorism, counter intelligence and foreign intelligence. NSI is the largest among the intelligence agencies in Bangladesh, the others being the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, SB, CID, PBI and intelligence directorates of armed and paramilitary forces. The agency stands under the direct authority of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
This is an independent civilian intelligence agency. Today, its internal security functions are similar to the British Security Services, MI5, while the foreign intelligence function does not quite resemble the MI6. Like other intelligence agencies, NSI is believed to have offices in foreign countries, which are based on Bangladeshi diplomatic missions abroad. The NSI also has territorial units in all of the 64 districts of Bangladesh, headed by a Joint Director/Deputy Director.
Being the only independent civilian intelligence agency in Bangladesh, the NSI's principal activities are gathering information about foreign governments, individuals, corporations, political parties, different religious groups; counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence and political intelligence are among its major functions.

Organization

The principal activities of the NSI National Security Intelligence are:
to provide intelligence assessments to the PM and the National Committee for Intelligence Coordination
by members of the military,
or by other partner forces.

Controversies

Human Rights abuses

According to Human Rights Watch's May 2009 issue, during the 2006–08 Bangladeshi political crisis in Bangladesh, the NSI was actively involved in harassment and arbitrary arrest of labour activists.

Aiding Indian militants

Over the years, NSI has been accused several times of aiding Indian separatists from North-East and Kashmir. Indian government and media have accused Bangladesh of involvement in the
2002 attack on American cultural centre in Kolkata. They have also blamed NSI along with DGFI and ISI for several attacks on Assam, Tripura and Bihar.

Ten-truck arms and ammunition haul in Chittagong

Several high ranking NSI officers and field officers were sacked by BNP government after found connected with the 10-Truck Arms and Ammunition Haul in Chittagong case, and were later convicted, who were:
NSI's name had appeared several times during the trial of the mysterious murder of labour rights activist Aminul Islam in April 2012. The only convict, Aminul's friend Mostafijur Rahman was found a mystery man, about whom no one knew much, who apparently had a cover job at an EPZ clinic and regularly met with security officers, is believed to be linked with NSI, though the court has not asked the agency for clarification and nor did the prosecution try to bring them, media has speculated such controversies, though denied by the agency.