Why the DGFI deserves a fair hearing – and why secrecy matters
The recent flurry of arrest warrants and criminal proceedings against several former and serving officers of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI)—along with members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and other agencies—has ignited the criticism at home and abroad while there already is a sense of nervousness within serving and military officers in the country, as it is rumored – Yunus regime has also taken necessary preparations for bringing at least one more criminal charges against over 150 military officers that will include half a dozen of chiefs of army who has served during 2009 to 2024.
Legal experts with knowledge on military laws are stating, the government cannot bring charges against top officials of DGFI as it is not an ordinary bureaucratic entity. DGFI operates under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Armed Forces Division (AFD), dealing primarily with intelligence, counterintelligence, and national-security operations. Its officers function under the Official Secrets Act of Bangladesh, which prohibits the disclosure of classified information relating to national security. The very nature of this legal framework means that DGFI officials cannot, under ordinary circumstances, divulge classified operational details in open court. Doing so would not only violate domestic law but could also endanger sources, methods, and international intelligence partnerships.
In legal terms, this protection is neither arbitrary nor unique to Bangladesh. Section 123–125 of the Evidence Act, and Section 352 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, provide explicit safeguards concerning “matters of State” and “communications made in official confidence.” They empower government officials to withhold disclosure where the public interest—especially in matters of sovereignty or defense—would otherwise be prejudiced. Likewise, the Constitution of Bangladesh, particularly Articles 39, 44, and 102, establishes that rights........
© Blitz
