Sacked Bangladeshi intelligence chief ‘arrested’ at Dhaka Airport

Major General Ziaul Ahsan, who had been removed from his position in the Bangladesh military, was apprehended after midnight on Tuesday after his plane was returned from the Dhaka airport runway to the boarding bridge, local media reported.

The former intelligence chief was removed from the aircraft and transported to the Dhaka cantonment.


According to reports at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Ziaul Ahsan was arrested after Emirates Flight 585 was told to taxi back to the boarding bridge from the runway.

During the search, a passenger was held, and the plane was eventually cleared to depart.


According to local media, the detained individual is former intelligence chief Major General Ziaul Ahsan.


Ahsan was released from his duties yesterday. He was reported to be a close associate of the recently resigned Prime Minister Hasina.

Since 2022, Major General Ziaul Ahsan has been the Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre. He previously served as Director of the same agency.

In 2009, as a major, Ziaul Ahsan was named Rab-2’s vice-captain. In the same year, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and named director of the Rab headquarters’ intelligence division. Since then, he has been the subject of numerous controversy.