Bangladesh refutes Indian media reports of ISI chief’s visit to Dhaka

The Bangladesh government has refuted Indian media reports claiming that the head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) recently visited Dhaka.

According to a statement posted by a defence ministry spokesperson on the Facebook page of Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus’s Press Wing Facts, “The news circulating in the press and social media is false.”

The Bangladeshi state news agency, BSS News, also reported that news circulating in the media and online are baseless.

The denial follows claims published on Wednesday by the Indian daily Economic Times, which claimed that ISI chief Lieutenant General Asim Malik was visiting Dhaka.

“ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Malik is visiting Bangladesh in what would be the first visit by the head of Pakistan’s intelligence agency to Dhaka in decades, presenting fresh security challenges along India’s eastern and northeastern borders,” the Economic Times article stated.

The report further claimed that the purpose of the alleged visit was to establish a network for exchanging sensitive intelligence between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Check: Bangladesh reportedly seeks ballistic missiles from Pakistan to counter India

Several Indian media outlets, citing the Economic Times report, added their own assertions based on unnamed sources. For instance, the Hindustan Times claimed, “Malik (ISI chief) arrived in Dhaka via Dubai on Tuesday and was welcomed by Lieutenant General Muhammad Faizur Rahman, the Quarter Master General (QMG) of the Bangladesh Army, who is believed to have close ties with Pakistan.”

Another Indian outlet alleged that Pakistani military officials visited areas near Bangladesh’s borders with India, particularly the “chicken’s neck” region, a narrow strip of land connecting mainland India with its northeastern states, which is a highly sensitive area for Indian national security.

Read: Retired Pak Army veteran living in Bangladesh visits Pakistan after 50 years

The Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh, Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hassan recently visited Pakistan and held discussions with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

“The COAS and the PSO underscored the importance of a stronger defense relationship, emphasizing that the enduring partnership between the two brotherly nations must remain resilient against external influences,” the ISPR stated.

Amid the security challenges in South Asia, COAS General Asim Munir highlighted the need for increased collaboration in military and defense sectors to promote regional peace and stability.

Bangladeshi military leaders praised the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, describing these efforts as a “beacon of courage and determination.”

Lieutenant General Hassan also met Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza at the Joint Staff Headquarters.