The Intelligence & Analysis Division, an important unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, primarily gathers and analyses advance intelligence on various criminal activities in the capital and sends it to the confidential branch of the Police Headquarters for necessary action. The Special Branch (SB) also performs similar functions. Based on such intelligence, the relevant police stations and units are instructed to remain alert and take necessary measures in advance. Yet, bypassing this established intelligence-gathering process, members of a banned organisation held a procession in Gulshan, a diplomatic area of the capital.
This was not an isolated incident. At least 30 such flash processions have taken place in different parts of the country, including the capital, over the past six months. During the same period, black-and-white flags bearing the Kalima in the style of those used by Islamic State (IS) were also seen in various parts of the country for nearly a week, raising questions about the police’s ability to gather advance intelligence and use it effectively. The government is also concerned about the situation.
An analysis of Police Headquarters data shows that, besides the Gulshan procession, leaders and activists of the Awami League (its activities are banned) and its banned affiliated organisations Chhatra League and Jubo League held flash processions in different districts and metropolitan areas, including the capital, from March to August. Their activities were highest in June. During that month, processions were reported in Sylhet, Rajbari, Gazipur, Chattogram, Jhenaidah, Netrokona, Rajshahi and various other areas.
By mid-June, leaders and activists of the banned Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League held a flash procession in the Nawab Road area of Sylhet city despite a police presence. Police later detained four people in a subsequent operation. Earlier, on June 12, a video of a flash procession by leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Sreepur, Gazipur, spread on social media. In the same month, at least three flash processions took place in Jashore within a week, and separate processions were also held in the Asad Gate area on May 17 and the College Gate area on June 21 in the capital’s Mohammadpur.
Despite such incidents occurring one after another, police say the process of gathering advance intelligence and taking preventive measures remains in place as usual. Assistant Inspector General (AIG-Media) of Police Headquarters AHM Shahadat Hossain told Bonik Barta, “To maintain law and order, police regularly collect, analyse and verify advance information from various sources. Alongside gathering intelligence on the activities of banned organisations or organisations whose activities have been banned, flash processions and extremist activities, the relevant units take necessary preventive measures through coordination. If information about such activities is received from an area, surveillance is increased, information about the individuals concerned is verified, and legal action is taken as appropriate. Information published through various channels, including social media, is also monitored. Coordination between intelligence units and field-level police is being further strengthened to ensure that swift action can be taken based on advance intelligence.”
On August 25, 27 police officers and members, including the in-charge of a police outpost, were transferred over allegations of failing to prevent a flash procession by the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations in Mymensingh. It was not only political programmes that raised questions about the police’s ability to gather advance intelligence, but also another incident that occurred around the same time concerning public security.
In the final week of June, black-and-white flags bearing the Kalima suddenly began appearing in various areas of the country — Narayanganj to Hatibandha in Lalmonirhat, as well as in Dhaka, Feni, Cox’s Bazar, Rajshahi and Chattogram. Processions and motorcycle rallies were also held carrying these flags. On June 27, rows of white flags bearing the Kalima were seen along roads and at the jetty in the Shah Porir Dwip border area of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.
According to law-and-order officials, the police’s primary responsibility is to gather information about potential activities in advance and take preventive measures, rather than act only after an incident has occurred. Yet, one flash procession after another by banned political organisations shows that weaknesses remain in field-level intelligence gathering, information analysis and coordination among the relevant units. In particular, the failure to obtain advance information about subsequent programmes even after repeated processions in the same area, or the police arriving at the scene only after a procession has begun, raises questions about the force’s intelligence capabilities. In some cases, law-enforcement agencies have become active only after videos of the programmes spread on social media.
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Quayyum believes it is necessary to hold officials responsible for gathering and supplying advance intelligence accountable. He told Bonik Barta, “There’s no alternative to gathering advance intelligence to ensure security and delivering it to the relevant authorities in a timely manner. But there appears to be some shortfall in this area at present. Following the political changeover, many officers who were skilled at gathering intelligence in the past are no longer performing those duties. Some of those currently responsible may not be able to gather and supply advance information as effectively as before. In this situation, it’s essential to assign officers skilled in intelligence gathering and analysis to appropriate positions. Accountability must also be ensured in the collection and dissemination of intelligence. Such weaknesses could become more pronounced in the future. We particularly need to remain vigilant at the national level about the activities of extremists. Their resurgence would never be in the country’s interest.”
Crime and security analysts say the police’s ability to control political violence or activities by banned organisations does not depend solely on conducting operations. The ability to gather advance information about potential programmes, keep local source networks active, monitor social media and quickly relay information to field-level units is equally important. Weaknesses in these areas could allow small-scale flash programmes to quickly turn into major security risks.
The ability to gather and analyse intelligence and deliver it to the relevant units on time is one of the foundations of effective law-and-order management. Professor Rezaul Karim Shohag, chairman of the Department of Criminology at the University of Dhaka, believes that even a minor shortfall in this area can create a major security risk. He told Bonik Barta, “It’s essential to make the intelligence system more efficient and information-driven while strengthening the capacity to gather advance intelligence at the field level. Transparency, accountability and professionalism among the officials responsible must also be ensured so that the information received can be properly utilised promptly.”
Additional Inspector General (Crime and Operations) of Police Khondoker Rafiqul Islam has denied that advance information is not being obtained about the activities of banned organisations and other crimes.
He told Bonik Barta, “If we didn’t have advance intelligence, many more such incidents would occur. Our strategy is to prevent incidents before they happen. Even when an untoward incident occurs, those involved are identified and brought to justice. In a densely populated country, if worshippers come out together after prayers and make any kind of movement on a day such as Friday, it’s difficult to control everything immediately. If we also conduct searches or impose excessive restrictions before prayers, it could create a fearful atmosphere among the public, which is also not what we want.”
He claimed that law-enforcement agencies are taking all necessary measures to control all types of crime, including activities by banned organisations and organisations whose activities have been banned.
Followers of the fascists are still occasionally trying to re-emerge, according to Zainul Abedin, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Home Affairs. He believes that political party leaders and activists, alongside the public, must come forward to contain their activities.
He told Bonik Barta, “We’re trying to increase public engagement with the police force. The police can’t be held responsible for everything. Unless the public remains aware and involved, it’s not possible for law-enforcement agencies to control such activities on their own. The police were once used by the fascist government to serve its own interests. We don’t want the police to be used in that way anymore. We’re a democratic government. We want to carry out all our activities by engaging the people.”