The Directorate of Air Intelligence is the primary intelligence agency of the Bangladesh Air Force. Headquartered at the Air Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment, it is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence related to air operations, national security threats, and personnel vetting within the BAF.
The origins of the DAI can be traced back to the post-independence period following the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, when the Bangladesh Air Force was formally established. Initially operating as the Office of Air Intelligence (OAI), it evolved into a full directorate amid broader intelligence reforms.
A significant reorganization occurred after the 1977 Bangladesh Air Force mutiny, during which intelligence functions across the armed forces were strengthened and centralized. Under President Ziaur Rahman, Wing Commander M. Hamidullah Khan, who suppressed the mutiny, was tasked with restructuring military intelligence, leading to the creation of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and enhancements to service-specific units like the DAI.
The DAI is structured hierarchically under the Office of the Chief of Air Staff at BAF headquarters.
The directorate operates within the broader BAF command framework, which includes four main branches: Operations & Training, Administration, Maintenance, and Planning.
The primary mandate of the DAI is to provide timely and accurate intelligence to support BAF operations, including air defense, surveillance, and tactical missions. Key functions include:
The DAI also plays a role in international engagements, such as supporting BAF contingents in United Nations peacekeeping missions through intelligence briefings.