QuickPost News Editorial | March 18, 2025 |

During Sheikh Hasina’s decade-long authoritarian rule, Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) earned a dark reputation for human rights abuses, from secret “Aynaghar” prisons to enforced disappearances. Yet, amid the shadows of her regime, a lesser-known act of defiance shines through: DGFI’s bold rejection of an Indian intelligence proposal to monitor Bangladesh’s telephone calls—a plan Hasina herself greenlit. This editorial dives into how DGFI stood firm before and after the infamous 2018 “midnight election,” safeguarding national security against foreign overreach.

The Indian Proposal

In 2018, India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) pitched a plan to tap into Bangladesh’s SS7 mobile network—a telephony protocol from the 1970s that manages calls, SMS, and roaming.

  • Objective: Collect metadata—phone numbers, locations, call durations—especially targeting Pakistan-related communications.
  • Hasina’s Nod: The Prime Minister’s Office, led by Defense Advisor Major General Tareque Ahmed Siddiqi, approved the request, aligning with Hasina’s pro-India stance.

If successful, RAW could have tracked every call in Bangladesh, a move that threatened national privacy and sovereignty.

The Submarine Cable Ambition

RAW’s plan didn’t stop at SS7—it extended to installing a submarine cable interception system in Bangladesh.

  • Strategic Advantage: Bangladesh hosts SMW-4 and SMW-5 cables, linking South Asia to the world.
  • Proposal Details:
    • Option 1: India would supply equipment for a live demo at Bangladesh’s cable landing station.
    • Option 2: A Bangladeshi team would visit India to see the tech in action.
  • Potential Reach: This system could have intercepted all domestic and international call data flowing through Bangladesh’s telecom backbone.

DGFI’s Said No

Despite pressure from Hasina and the National Security Intelligence (NSI), DGFI refused to budge.

  • Reasons for Resistance:
    • National Security: “Access to SS7 posed a direct threat to our interests,” a former DGFI official revealed.
    • Pakistan Angle: India sought Pakistan’s data, but Bangladesh’s own privacy would’ve been collateral damage.
    • Sovereignty: Handing telecom control to a foreign agency was unthinkable.
  • Leadership: The Dhaka station chief first flagged the issue, followed by the DGFI director rejecting it three times—before and after the 2018 election.

This wasn’t just a refusal—it was a courageous defense of Bangladesh’s autonomy.

The Internal Fallout

Hasina’s administration didn’t take kindly to DGFI’s defiance.

  • NSI’s Role: NSI Chief Major General TM Jobayer, who built ties with RAW’s then-head Samant Kumar Goel in London, pushed DGFI to comply.
  • Punishment: Officers who resisted faced stalled promotions and transfers to minor posts—a clear message of reprisal.
  • Tension: The clash exposed cracks in Hasina’s control, pitting her loyalists against DGFI’s principled stand.

What If DGFI Hadn’t Acted?

Had DGFI caved, the consequences would’ve been dire:

  • Privacy Breach: Every Bangladeshi’s call details—domestic or international—would’ve landed in RAW’s hands.
  • Geopolitical Risk: Relations with Pakistan and other neighbors could’ve soured over data leaks.
  • Loss of Control: Bangladesh’s telecom infrastructure would’ve become an extension of India’s intelligence network.
  • Long-Term Threat: “It wasn’t just metadata—voice content could’ve followed,” a senior source warned.

DGFI’s block saved Bangladesh from a surveillance nightmare.

A Victory for DGFI

DGFI’s resistance in 2018 stands as a rare triumph amid Hasina’s repressive reign.

  • The Win: A bold move to protect national sovereignty and citizen privacy against foreign intrusion.
  • The Contrast: It highlights Hasina’s willingness to trade autonomy for India’s favor, undone by her own agency’s resolve.
  • Post-2024 Lens: After Hasina’s 2024 fall to a student uprising, this act raises questions—was DGFI quietly aligning with public interest, or just flexing internal power?

DGFI’s 2018 stand against India’s surveillance bid—despite Hasina’s approval—proves that even in dark times, pockets of principle can shine. It thwarted a plan that could’ve turned Bangladesh’s phones into RAW’s playground, preserving a slice of sovereignty. For a nation now rebuilding after Hasina’s collapse, this story is a reminder: vigilance and courage can shield us from external threats. DGFI, often vilified, showed it could be a guardian when it mattered most.

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