In a significant and clandestine move, Lieutenant General Asim Malik, the chief of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), made a discreet entry into Dhaka on January 21, having traveled through Dubai. This marks the first occasion in decades that a head of Pakistani intelligence has set foot in Bangladesh. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by Lieutenant General Muhammad Faizur Rahman, the Quarter Master General of the Bangladesh Army.
While mainstream media in Bangladesh refrained from reporting on this visit, the story gained traction on social media platforms. Sources indicate that General Malik engaged in discussions with the Director General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) of Bangladesh during his stay. One of the primary aims of this visit appears to be the establishment of an information-sharing framework between the intelligence agencies of the two nations, raising concerns about potential collaboration that could facilitate increased terrorist activities targeting India.
Additionally, the ISI chief’s agenda reportedly includes uniting various Islamic factions under a single banner, with Jamaat-e-Islami at the forefront. His itinerary likely involves meetings with both active and retired military personnel, as well as political figures. Notably, despite the heightened security surrounding his stay at the Radisson Blue in Dhaka, General Malik was spotted shopping in local markets to honor a request from his wife.
While the press wing of Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor has dismissed reports of Malik’s visit as inaccurate, it seems that the real deception lies not with the media, but rather with the government itself.
In recent times, the evolving dynamics between Bangladesh and Pakistan have become increasingly evident. A notable event underscoring this shift was the visit of the ISI chief to Bangladesh. Following the decline of the Pro-Liberation Awami League government and the establishment of the interim administration led by Md. Yunus, there has been a marked strengthening of ties between Dhaka and Islamabad. This burgeoning relationship spans several critical areas, including defense and diplomacy, where both nations appear to be forging closer connections.
Efforts to foster cooperation are visible across various sectors, such as trade, culture, and education, alongside diplomatic and defense initiatives. Reports have emerged indicating that the Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI, attempted to infiltrate the anti-discriminatory student movement in Bangladesh last year, which was protesting against the quota system in education and government employment. Allegations suggest that ISI operatives incited animosity on social media against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by creating fake profiles and masquerading as students. This campaign reportedly received support from the Jamaat-e-Islami student organization, Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS).
Social media reports have revealed that several individuals, allegedly linked to Pakistani intelligence, have posed as students from various universities in Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Sylhet, Chittagong, Jahangirnagar, and Rajshahi. These individuals have been actively engaged in disseminating propaganda against the government of Sheikh Hasina and India. Media have pinpointed the identity of approximately 15 to 16 such agents, with three to four confirmed as Pakistani nationals, while the remainders are Bangladeshi citizens. Furthermore, media sources indicate that the ISI has dispatched numerous covert operatives, including three women, to Bangladesh amid the then ongoing student protests. These operatives reportedly infiltrated Dhaka from Karachi, strategically splitting into smaller groups between July 10 and 16.
On December 27, 2024, BDDigest reported a concerning incident involving the vessel ‘M V Yuan Jiang Fa Zhong,’ which docked at Chittagong port after traveling directly from Karachi, Pakistan. This ship was found to be carrying highly dangerous explosives, capable of inflicting significant destruction and loss of life. A Chittagong Port official, who witnessed the unloading process, shared images and details regarding two containers filled with these explosives. An intelligence source later confirmed that, following an inspection, Navy officials detained the containers for about an hour, only to release them under mysterious circumstances.
Recent developments have once again brought to light the alleged Pakistani conspiracy in Bangladesh. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has seized four high explosive anti-tank rockets and four fin assemblies in the Dail area of Uttarpara, located within the Sabrang union of Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar. A report from BDDigest on January 9, 2025, corroborated these findings, indicating that the explosives and anti-tank weaponry were produced at the state-owned Pakistan Machine Tool Factory in Karachi.
On January 20, 2025, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the official news agency of Bangladesh, reported that a six-member military delegation from Bangladesh, led by Lieutenant General S M Kamrul Hasan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, visited Pakistan from January 13 to 18, 2025. During this visit, the delegation engaged with the chiefs of the three branches of the Pakistani armed forces and other senior military officials.
Notably, Bangladeshi journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury recently disclosed on the Indian news channel ‘India News’ that the ISI has gained complete control over the Bangladeshi Ordinance Factory following Sheikh Hasina’s exile to India.
Concerns are mounting regarding the potential for increased Pakistani influence in Bangladesh, particularly with the upcoming visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar to Dhaka in February 2025. This will mark the first visit by a Pakistani Foreign Minister to Bangladesh since 2012. Additionally, reports indicate that the newly appointed Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Syed Refaat Ahmed, has expressed a desire to visit Pakistan at the earliest opportunity.
In a significant development, the leading trade organizations of Bangladesh and Pakistan have recently formalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at establishing a joint business council to enhance trade relations between the two nations. The agreement was signed by Hafizur Rahman, the administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), and Atif Ikram Sheikh, the president of the Pakistan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).
The burgeoning friendship between Bangladesh and Pakistan, particularly following the recent political shifts in Bangladesh, can be analyzed through the lens of Game Theory, specifically the ‘common enemy effect.’ This theory suggests that both countries have gravitated towards one another primarily to confront what they perceive as a mutual adversary: India. However, this alliance appears to prioritize opposition to India over fostering genuine self-development for either nation. Pakistan’s strategy of bolstering Bangladesh against India, inciting animosity towards the pro-India Awami League government, and enhancing ties with Dhaka poses a potential threat to India’s national security if not addressed promptly. Conversely, Bangladesh faces the risk of almost bankrupt Pakistan’s increasing influence, which may inject radical Islamic ideologies into its society, undermining its secular foundations. Such developments could not only fracture the social fabric of Bangladesh but also tarnish its international reputation.
