Nahid says intelligence agencies have 'lost their edge' since Aug 5

The NCP chief says it is necessary to discuss not only the home advisor but also the “deep state” allegedly orchestrating attacks

National Citizen Party (NCP) chief Nahid Islam has launched a scathing attack on Bangladesh’s intelligence agencies in the wake of the shooting of Inqilab Moncho Convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi.

Speaking on Monday, Nahid said the agencies were once ruthlessly efficient at silencing critics but are now unable to catch killers or prevent them from fleeing the country.

“For 16 years, our intelligence was used to suppress all opposition,” he said. “They were so experienced they could carry out abductions and killings with precision. But since Aug 5, their skills seem to have vanished.

“They can no longer make arrests. They allow killers to cross Bangladesh’s borders. Even after 72 hours, they fail to capture the perpetrators.”

The attack on Hadi has prompted calls for the home advisor to step down. Nahid, however, argued that focusing solely on one advisor misses the bigger picture.

“It is not just the home advisor,” he said. “We must discuss the deep state behind these operations and the functioning of our intelligence agencies.”