Needless to say, the functioning of any state agency, not to speak of the intelligence agencies, is governed by the Constitution and the law with the term of reference clearly spelt out. We cannot overlook the fact that their input is extremely important in determining national policies that go to uphold national interest by ensuring the nation's security.

Unfortunately, national interest came only second to partisan interest during last 15 years of elected government. It is not only during the military and quasi-military rule that the intelligence agencies were used to prop up the regime that enjoyed very little public support, the distressing aspect is that popularly elected governments could not resist the temptation either of employing these agencies to steal a march on the political opponents or harassing them to put them on the back foot. In fact misuse of intelligence resources was quite blatant during the last decade and half of BNP and AL rule. Some of the agencies were made to work almost like a party apparatus, and used in the most opportunistic manner. This has been more evident in the case of agencies like the NSI and SB. The consequence was the dilution of national security, something that became only too evident when the perpetrators of the simultaneous bombings in Aug 2005 got away scot-free after the act. However, there are glaring instances too of the use of the forces intelligence, that being under the PM who happened to be the defence minister also, to chastise political opponents or 'bring them in line.'

Intelligence agencies created to serve the paramount security interests of the country have onerous responsibilities in today's world to protect the nation from different forms of threats of subversion, both international and internal. So the imperative need for not only enhancing their professional capabilities but also they are required to be fully depoliticised in their day to day operations. During the time when there is so much talk of political and systemic reforms it is time we considered bringing appropriate reforms that would insulate the agencies from all forms of pressure, especially partisan, and allow them to fulfill their national obligations.