The National Security Intelligence, (;) commonly known as the NSI, is a principal civilian intelligence agency of Bangladesh. It serves as the governmentâÂÂs lead organization for internal security, counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence, and foreign intelligence operations, providing strategic analysis and intelligence support for national security decision-making and it is part of the Bangladesh Intelligence Community.
In 1972 It is formed as an independent civilian intelligence agency. Today, its internal security functions are similar to the British security service MI5, while the foreign intelligence function does not quite resemble the MI6. The NSI also has territorial units in all 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, and different religious groups; counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence, political intelligence, and giving protection to the VIPs and VVIPs are among its major functions.
The National Security Intelligence features a hierarchy with several key positions aimed at maintaining efficient operations. At the top of this structure are the Director (Brig Gen/DIGP), Additional Director (Col/Addl DIGP), Joint Director, Deputy Director, and Assistant Director, each playing a pivotal role in the agency's functioning.
In addition to these leadership roles, the NSI employs specialized staff, including computer engineers, telephone engineers, and research officers, who provide technical and analytical support essential for the agency's intelligence operations.
The organization is further divided into various directorates that focus on specific areas of national security. These directorates include Internal, Dhaka Wing, Border, External, Security, Media Wing, Training, Political, Eco-Security, Administration, Research, Counter-Terrorism Cell, and Intelligence. Each of these divisions has a distinct mandate, contributing to the overarching goal of safeguarding national interests.
The NSI is predominantly staffed by civilian personnel. Officers are recruited through the Prime Minister's Office, where Class-1 officers, who are directly recruited by the agency, commence their careers as Assistant Directors (Grade-9).
Furthermore, officers may also be seconded from the Bangladesh Police, Armed Forces, and Bangladesh Ansar.
The core functions of the NSI include:
Yemen
India
According to Human Rights Watch's May 2009 issue, during the 2006âÂÂ08 Bangladeshi political crisis in Bangladesh, the NSI was actively involved in harassment and arbitrary arrest of labor activists.
NSI's name had appeared several times during the trial of the mysterious murder of labor rights activist Aminul Islam in April 2012. The only convict, Aminul's friend Mostafijur Rahman, was found to be 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 on such controversies, though denied by the agency.