The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (), commonly known by its acronym DGFI, is the military intelligence agency of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, responsible for the collection, collation, and evaluation of strategic and topographic information, primarily through human intelligence (HUMINT). As one of the principal members of the Bangladesh Intelligence Community, the DGFI reports to its Director-General under the executive authority of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The agency is primarily focused on providing intelligence support to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and the Armed Forces of Bangladesh.
The DGFI was originally formed as Directorate of Forces Intelligence (DFI) in 1972. A major impetus for the creation of the agency was to monitor unforeseen threats from neighboring and foreign armed forces, especially India and Pakistan. The agency experienced dramatic reorganization and growth after the 1977 unrest and attempted coup, resulting from the hijacking of JAL flight 472 from Bombay, India to Dhaka International Airport, Tejgaon. DFI was headquartered in Segunbagicha, Bailey Road, Dhaka. Upon its creation, Directorate of Forces Intelligence under the command and jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense, it was organised as the principal intelligence arm of the nascent defense ministry of Bangladesh, limited to gathering critical information pertaining to the Armed Forces.The nascent DFI achieved very little and was overshadowed by National Security Intelligence.
In 1977, during reorganization of the DFI, it was transferred temporarily from the Minister of Defense to the Director of Martial Law Control Communication and Control Center under Wing commander Muhammad Hamidullah Khan. This objective was officiated under the control of the Chief Executive, the President. The directorate was elevated to Directorate General with major increase in budget and logistics, with its headquarters relocated to Dhaka Cantonment. The agency transformed into the principal intelligence arm of the defense forces specializing in gathering of foreign military intelligence.
The agency officially adopted its current name in 1977. The DGFI officially consists primarily of military officers from the three service branches of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, while with an evolving role in the country's intelligence community, DGFI is also reported to have classified civilian employees. The stated priority mission of the DGFI is to provide timely, and accurate intelligence, and tactical support to Bangladesh Armed Forces commands. While the budget of DGFI is classified, it is reported to have the largest budget of the intelligence agencies.
The agency's elite counter-terrorism unit formed in 2006, CTIB, is responsible for gathering intelligence, infiltrating and neutralizing terrorist organizations that may pose a threat to national security.
In May 2014, a New Monogram of the DGFI was unveiled at its Headquarter. The Lily placed on the center of the monogram, The National Flower Lily expressing the ethnicity of independent sovereign Bangladesh. The eight light emission around the lotus expressing Patriotism, Loyalty, Discipline, Concentration, Alertness, Prudence, and Efficiency of the activities of the agency. At the bottom "Bangladesh" there are two stars at each side and a total of four stars representing the four fundamental principles of the constitution of Bangladesh, Nationalism, Secularism, Socialism and Democracy.
The DGFI has increasingly expanded its role throughout the years, including foreign intelligence gathering, counter-intelligence, covert operations, counter-proliferation, signals intelligence, cyber intelligence, and anti-terrorism.
The DGFI is headed by a Director-General, who is traditionally a serving Major-General (Two-star general) with the status of Lt. General in the Bangladesh Army. One Deputy Director General and Nine Directors report directly to the Director-General with each deputy heading their assigned wings respectively.
Twelve bureaus and nineteen detachments make up the primary structure of the organisation. The total manpower for DGFI is estimated to be around 12,000. The commanding post for DGFI is the DG followed by the DDG, director, senior additional director, additional director, deputy director and assistant director. Officers from armed forces posted here on deputation. Some civilian officer also works for DGFI recruited by Chief Administrative Officer, Ministry of Defence, Bangladesh.
Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Bureau (CTIB), is an elite counter terrorism intelligence unit of DGFI. The Bureau was established in 2006 from the counterterrorism wing of DGFI which was established in 2002. The bureau was established along with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and the counter terrorism cell of National Security Intelligence (NSI). CTIB is responsible for collecting and analysing intelligence on internal threats and counterattacks. CTIB agents are recruited from the Armed Forces and are responsible for gathering intelligence and executing special operations.
The DGFI and its activities are highly classified and confidential to both the mass media and civilians. The functions and priorities of DGFI have changed throughout the years and vary with the country's political situations and foreign affairs. The primary function of the DGFI is the collection of foreign military intelligence, however during recent times, the agency has extended its role to economic, political and foreign intelligence. DGFI maintains active collaborations with very few other secret services around the world.
DGFI bought mass surveillance systems from Israel against civilians and critics, opposition activists and military personnel who were against Sheikh Hasina's regime. This mass surveillance system was used to track Hasina's opponents and detain them in the infamous torture centre which is known as Ayanaghar.
In 2020, an investigative report by Al Jazeera accused DGFI of purchasing Israeli-made mass surveillance equipment. The report claims of classified meeting between a team of DGFI officers and Mossad operatives in Hungary even though Bangladesh has no diplomatic relations with Israel and trade with Israel is prohibited. Bangladesh Army denied these allegations in an official statement.
Sheikh Hasina used DGFI as a tool to silence dissidents who raised concerns about her autocratic policies and methods. DGFI, during Hasina's reign, was accused of detaining tens of thousands of opposition activists, killing hundreds in extrajudicial encounters, and journalists and bloggers became victims of forced disappearance due to government repression.
In 2012, Defense Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique was involved in bribery of 70 lakh Bangladeshi currency carried by a government vehicle. Border Guard Bangladesh confiscated the car later on.
On 5 August 2024, fifteen years after the July Revolution, Sheikh Hasina's autocratic regime collapsed and she fled to India. An investigation was launched against Hasina's regime for extrajudicial killings, abductions, and enforced disappearances by the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances. They found that the DGFI was directly involved in these incidents, along with other agencies, and that Hasina's Defense Adviser and former Deputy Director General of DGFI, Tarique Ahmed Siddique, controlled the DGFI for Hasina autocratic regime own political gain and repression.
On 12 September 2024, Bangladesh's interim government sent three former directors and Generals, Lt Gen Md Saiful Alam, Lt Gen Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury, and Major Gen Hamidul Haque, into early retirement for their involvement in human rights violations.
On October 8, 2025, the International Crimes Tribunal formally accepted charges in two groundbreaking cases of crimes against humanity concerning the abduction, enforced disappearance, and torture of opposition figures during the lengthy rule of the Awami League. These alleged abuses reportedly took place in the Rapid Action Battalion's Task Force Interrogation cell and the Joint Interrogation Cell. The tribunal's actions mark a significant development in addressing these grave human rights violations, particularly involving five former directors general of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence: Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique, General Mohammad Akbar Hossain, General Saiful Abedin, General Mohammad Saiful Alam and General Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury.
Former army chief Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan has demanded the immediate dismantling of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence and Rapid Action Battalion, accusing these agencies of involvement in extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. He voiced his concerns while testifying for the second consecutive day before the International Crimes Tribunal-1, stating, <blockquote>"I want RAB to be disbanded immediately. If that is not possible, the military personnel posted there should be returned to the armed forces." He further called for the disbandment of the DGFI, citing its loss of legitimacy due to fostering a culture associated with secret detention centers like the "Aynaghar."</blockquote>Karim further claimed he had heard allegations that some victims were disposed of in rivers after being killed. He also stated that the DGFI picked up individualsâÂÂincluding ministers and political figuresâÂÂand detained them in DGFI cells for interrogation between 2007 and 2008.