How experts looking into reshaping intelligence agencies

Building a fresh intelligence network is a significant challenge for the interim government, now entering its third week in office, according to experts who study such matters academically.

They said the tasks include reorganising and reactivating intelligence agencies with new leadership, as well as motivating operatives at the field level.

“We are observing changes at the top level through public announcements. It’s likely that changes are also occurring among the heads of various wings within the agencies,” said an expert closely monitoring these developments.

He added, “It would be better for the chief and the wing directors to reshape their teams swiftly, as the intelligence agencies – whether part of the regular law enforcement or the armed forces – became highly partisan during the previous regime.”

Another analyst said, “Typically when an elected government takes over, it may take time to reorganise these agencies. However, the new government assumed office under extraordinary circumstances following a mass uprising, against which the agencies had previously worked.”

So, he said, it is an urgent task for the new government to reorganise the agencies that had been architects or parts of many evil designs to keep a government in power without holding credible elections year after year.

Another expert said, “There are two key factors – national and international – that the newly restructured intelligence agencies will need to consider.

“A government was overthrown by the people, but the ruling party was not a weak one, despite the majority of the nation being against them. It had also created vested interests within all levels of the state machinery. Therefore, the possibility of a counteraction always exists.”

On international aspects, the analyst said the past regime had different equations with different neighbours and global powers, and the countries had their own calculations.

“In a changed perspective, the countries are now making new plus-minus in regards to us and Bangladesh will be covertly, if not overtly, experiencing their changed strategies,” he said.

“Based on their strategies, we have to have our own policy as well as intelligence gatherings and analysis. Again, it has to be in a professional way, not cooked-up stories as seen in the past,” the analyst explained.

On the matter, TBS also talked to Major General (retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, president of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, an independent strategic think tank.

He noticed one aspect that he called a “weak point”.

“Although we have advisers in all other sectors, there is none for national security. I mean a national security adviser is yet to be there,” said General Muniruzzaman.

“If there is a national security adviser, the head of government can have more intelligence analysis and synthesis based on true intelligence gatherings. Here we are noticing a vacuum,” he said.

“In every post-revolution period, there remain some tough and unique challenges. Due to the legacy left by the Sheikh Hasina regime, the task for the new government is huge. But I hope those who are in the government will be able to carry out their jobs,” he added.